Piqued by the over bloating cost of governance in Nigeria, the Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Agencies and Parastatals has lamented that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, the Federal Road Safety Commission and such other agencies are duplicating the functions of existing government agencies and as such should either be scrapped or merged.
Presenting a 800-page report to President Goodluck Jonathan this evening at the State House, the committee Chairman, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, noted that while the EFCC and ICPC are a duplication the functions of the police, the FRSC is duplicating those of the Federal Highways Department in the Ministry of Works as well as part of the Nigerian Police functions.
Consequently, the committee recommended the scrapping of the FRSC as well as merger of EFCC with ICPC and about 99 other agencies and parastatals if truly the administration was serious about cutting cost of governance and promoting efficiency.
According to Oronsaye, there are 541 government parastatals, commissions and agencies, statutory and non-statutory.
He believes that the country does not need more that 161 Statutory MDAs from its present 263.
He said: “The Committee believes that if the cost of governance must be brought down, then both the Legislature and Judiciary must make spirited efforts at reducing their running costs as well as restructuring and rationalising the agencies under them since the three arms make up the government.”
On the FRSC, he had this to say: “One case that stands out clearly in this regard is that of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), which should not be in existence in its present form. What the FRSC was set up to do is a replication of the mandates of two existing bodies namely: the Highway Department of the Federal Ministry of Works with respect to the maintenance of safety and orderliness on our highways and the role of the Nigeria Police Force in ensuring law and order on our roads.
“Indeed, it is a fundamental breach of acceptable practice of good public sector governance to create a new agency or institution as a response to the seeming failure or poor performance of an existing agency in order to suit political or individual interests.
“Such a practice has proved eventually to precipitate systemic conflicts, crises and even collapse at a substantial but avoidably high financial cost to government.”
Oronsaye also spoke further on EFCC and ICPC: “Even though the two Commissions were established separately to address corruption, which the Police appeared to have failed to do, successive administrations have ironically continued to appoint the Chairman of the EFCC from the Police Force, while the methodology adopted by the ICPC in conducting investigations as well as the training of its personnel in investigation procedure are carried out by the Police.
“Mr. President, the point that must be reiterated is the fact that an institution is inefficient and ineffective should not be a basis for the creation of new ones. The officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force have been reputed for performing exceptionally and winning laurels while on international peace-keeping and other missions. This implies that the problems of our Police are not incurable.”
The committee, in its report, noted that it may be difficult to implement the recommendations but charged him put his name on the good side of history by effecting what he called positive change now.
His words: “Expectedly, there will be resistance and reluctance by those who will always want to protect territories or seek to promote their selfish interests. While noting that the decisions to be taken by the Administration will be difficult, we are emboldened by the principle that if a decision is for the common good, it is best that those decisions are taken without delay.
“Mr. President, the commitment of Government to effect a positive change that would engender a reduction in the size of government and cost of governance cannot be gain said. However, the effective implementation of these recommendations, if accepted, would require bold and firm decisions that will entail administrative, political, legislative as well as robust and concerted Constitutional actions.”
Jonathan, in his remarks, assured the members of the committee that he would set up a White Paper Committee immediately, with a view to ensuring that the Federal Executive Council takes final decision in the next two months.
The presentation, held at the Council Chamber of the State House, was attended by most Ministers and Special advisers.