President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday initiated moves to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy, which currently has over 400 parastatals and agencies.
He, has, therefore, set a Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals and Agencies.
The President, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja, noted that the move was in line with a recommendation of the defunct Gen. Theophilus Danjuma-led Presidential Advisory Council.
PAC had, in its final report, advised Jonathan to reduce the number of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies as part of measures to ultimately cut the cost of governance in the country.
There were misgivings in some quarters, particular among opposition parties, that Jonathan had ignored that recommendation, following the size of his cabinet, as well as his decision to create additional ministries.
However, in an address at the inauguration of the restructuring/rationalisation committee, which is headed by Mr. Steve Oronsaye, a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Jonathan expressed concern at the size of the federal bureaucracy, and expressed a desire to “eliminate overlap, duplication and redundancies.”
He admitted that previous reports on the matter had identified the need for the rationalisation of the parastatals and agencies, as there were cases of duplications and overlaps in their responsibilities.
Jonathan said the large size combined with duplications in the functions had led to “inefficiencies and wastages.”
Jonathan said, “As you are aware, the Presidential Advisory Council which was chaired by Gen. Danjuma, (retd.), in January, 2011 submitted a memorandum on the effective and optimal management of national resources.
“One of the recommendations contained in the memorandum was the need to restructure and rationalise the number of non-ministerial agencies to eliminate overlap, duplications and redundancies.
“Consequently, I directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to review previous reports and records on the subject and proffer advice on the restructuring of Federal Government parastatals and agencies.
“The ad hoc committee constituted by the SGF noted that there were indeed duplications and overlaps in the mandates and responsibilities of the parastatals and agencies and recommended the setting up of a broader committee to carefully examine the enabling Acts of the federal parastatals, agencies and commissions and identify all areas of overlap and duplication of functions with a view to their eventual rationalisation.
“It will be recalled that these parastatals and agencies were established to speedily implement government projects and programmes without the usual encumbrances of the bureaucracies.
“However over the years, government has set up too many of such parastatals with overlapping functions thereby leading to inefficiencies and wastages.”
He added, “Government attaches great importance to this committee’s assignment in view of the financial implications of maintaining a federal bureaucracy with over 400 parastatals and agencies.
“The need to reduce the cost of government cannot be overemphasised.”
The President directed the committee to begin work immediately, and submit its report within eight weeks.
“I have no fear whatsoever that your findings and recommendations will go a long way to transform the parastatals and agencies in line with this administration’s determination to ensure greater efficiency and productivity,” Jonathan said.
By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
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