HURIWA flays Senate over proliferation of agencies

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has flayed the Ninth National Assembly for alleged mismanagement of its legislative powers to “sabotage the economic wellbeing of Nigeria in violation of the widely accepted recommendations for restructuring and merging of non-profitable federal agencies as made by a committee headed by a former Head of Service of the Federation (HSoF), Mr. Steve Oronsaye.”

Its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, yesterday, recalled that Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, had said the current administration would expeditiously conclude restructuring of the public service.

“The information, based on media research that states that the Ninth session of the Senate has proposed the establishment of 376 new agencies and institutions despite moves by the Federal Government to restructure the public service in line with the Steve Oronsaye Committee Report on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies and Commission, is a clear demonstration of the fact that the Senator Ahmad Lawan-led Senate is parasitic and indeed ranks as the worst in the political annals of Nigeria,” he stated.

Recall Oronsaye report recommended the scrapping or merging of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to reduce the cost of governance. A white paper committee to review the parastatals, agencies and commissions raised since 2014 submitted a draft report in August.

Besides, HURIWA recalled that the Federal Government had, also in November last year, inaugurated sub-committees headed by erstwhile HSoFs, Bukar Aji, Amal Pepple and Oladapo Afolabi, on implementation of the Oronsaye report, while the Ebele Okeke committee was to draft a white paper on the Amal Pepple committee report and harmonise other reports.