- By Halimah Olamide
A Nigerian leading policy think-tank, Agora Policy has offered suggestions and guidelines for an effective implementation of the Oronsaye Report by the Federal Government.
NPO Reports that the Federal Government had on February 26, announced that the 12-year-old report commissioned during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan was needed to trim down government structure and cut down expenses.
Offering its guidelines on the modalities for implementation, Agora Policy, has been at the forefront of advocacy for transparency and prudence in governance, said governments before now had paid lip service to the implementation of the Oronsaye report noting that even with the report on the shelves, more agencies of government had been created.
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Agora Policy noted that in the past, merger of ministries, which it observed was not uncommon, is often done haphazardly.
“The announcements are made before any deep thought is given to how to operationalise the announcement,” Agora stated
In its guideline anchored by the former Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dr. Joe Abah, it explained that when two ministries are merged, the permanent secretaries remain, and each retain a set of directors, deputy directors and other civil servants.
“For instance, when the Ministry of Power was merged with the Ministry of Works and Housing, there was a Permanent Secretary for Power and a Permanent Secretary for Works and Housing.
“As the permanent secretary is the ‘Accounting Officer’ of the ministry and the chief adviser to the minister, it was unclear which of the two permanent secretaries had ultimate authority over budgets, expenditure and staffing,” it said
It gave the instances of the Ministry of Aviation where there was a Minister of Transport and a Minister of Aviation (Transport) within the same ministry before the Ministry of Aviation was eventually made a standalone ministry during President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.
“At the time, it was argued that, unlike others, the Minister of Aviation (Transport) was never announced as a Minister of State and was therefore a full-fledged minister. Both ministers were served by the same permanent secretary who described his situation at the time as that of a woman who had two husbands that did not necessarily get on with each other.”
It noted with the merger of ministries, “governments tend to muddle through until the next reconfiguration.”
Saying that civil servants usually remain with no talk of job losses, Agora Policy stated that mandates are not formally clarified and approved by the Federal Executive Council; adding that people act more on instincts than with clearly redefined mandates.
“Save for changes in stationery and websites, not much actually changes,” it said
To avert hiccups, Agora Policy reminded the government of the complexities involved in mergers, noting it requires time, expertise, planning and resources.
It also noted that mergers are capital-intensive suggesting the need for adequate budget for the exercise.
The organisation also said in addition to the 10-member committee announced by the government, it would be important to set up merger committees for each agency that is to be merged.
“There is a need to sensitise the public about what is realistically achievable in the 12 weeks that the 10-member committee has been given.
“It would be prudent to allow a minimum of six months if things are to be done properly.
“There should be an immediate independent audit of assets, as well as staff audits, of all the agencies affected,” Agora Policy advised
It also suggested a review of mandates, management arrangements and organisational strcutures to ensure that the new organisations that emerge are appropriately sized and fit-for-purpose.
“There is a need to rationalise staffing. This should be done sequentially, starting with redeploying people to other parts of the public service where their skills may be needed.
“However, it would be better to be upfront with the public and the trade unions that some people would have to go. Efforts should be made to offer enhanced packages for people to go, first on volunatry basis,” it recommended
Agora Policy recommended that the process for subsuming agencies under other agencies, relocating them to new ministries or abolishing them should use the same principles, adding that this should include audit of assets, staff audits and rationalisation of staff.
It charged the government to ensure an improvement in the record keeping in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
It said that important reports like the Joda, Ayida and Oronsaye reports and others should be preserved adding that they are supposed to be posted online for ease of access.
The organisation said the government has the guidelines prepared by the Bureau Public Service Reforms nearly 10 years ago to fall back upon noting that the guidelines are “still relevant and applicable.”
“There is a need to ensure that things are done properly so that the effect of the medicine does not end up being worse than the ailment,” it concluded