- By Femi Alabi
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general election Peter Obi, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against an implementation of the Stephen Orosanye Report in a manner capable of affecting civil servants.
Obi said he would have taken the same decision as Tinubu on the strategic plan to cut down on the cost of running government.
He said that implementing the Oransaye report is one of the best ways to make governance efficient, cost-effective, and productive
Obi commenting on the Oransaye report on his X handle stated that being in opposition does not warrant blind and thoughtless criticism whenever government takes the right decision.
The LP candidate recommended that beyond implementing the report, government should go further and cut the cost of governance across board
He charged political leaders to be ready to back up the implementation of the report with sacrifices for the overall development of the nation.
Obi added that In implementing the report, conscious effort must be made to cushion the effects of such a major overhaul on the workers, to avoid driving more people into hardship, in these very challenging times.
He however advised that the implementation of the report must not be rushed just because those that will be directly affected are mostly civil servants. Saying, a very deep understanding of the workings of the Federal bureaucracy will be required to effectively implement the Report.
Obi said, “I have received several text messages from people wanting to know if I would have implemented the Oronsaye Report, which full implementation has just been directed by the President.
“In response to their questions, I would like to refer everyone to my Manifesto and my response to similar questions during my campaigns. On the 5th of October, 2022 at Havard University, I was asked: “Will you implement the Oronsaye Report?” and I responded in the affirmative.
“Although the implementation of the report is long overdue, its implementation is a welcome development so long as the decision is informed by these principles. .
“Grasping the symetries between the federal and the other tiers of government will be imperative as Federal agencies have branches and outreaches in all the 36 states.
“Government must also show clearly the amount of resources to be saved in the implied shrinking of government. It should also indicate clearly where and how the saved resources are to be redeployed.
“More importantly, the implementation needs to be accompanied by a template to avoid a future bloating of government. By doing the right things and implementing the right policies, we will build the New Nigeria of our dreams”.