Agora Policy Lists Ways to Ensure Effective Implementation of Oronsaye Report

•Seeks audit of assets of impacted organisations

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

To ensure that the planned implementation of some parts of the Oronsaye report does not cause more problems than it tries to address, Agora Policy, a Nigerian think-tank based in Abuja, has called for an audit of assets and human resources of government agencies to be affected by the planned mergers.

It urged government to realise that mergers are complex endeavours that require time, expertise, planning and resources and which cost money to implement, advising that there was the need to provide a budget for the exercise.

In addition to the 10-member committee announced by the government, Agora said it would be important to set up merger committees for each agency that is to be merged.

In addition, the Waziri Adio-led organisation stated that there was the 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.

“There should be a review of mandates, management arrangements and organisational structures to ensure that the new organisations that emerge are appropriately sized and fit-for-purpose, ” the think-tank said.

Highlighting the need to rationalise staffing, it advised that this should be done sequentially, starting with redeploying people to other parts of the public service where their skills may be needed.

However, it stated that it would be better to be upfront with the public and the trade unions that some people would have to go, while efforts should be made to offer enhanced packages for people to go, first on voluntary basis.

“The process for subsuming agencies under other agencies, relocating them to new ministries or abolishing them should use the same principles, including audit of assets, staff audits and rationalisation of staff.

“The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation should improve on its record keeping, particularly for important reports like the Joda, Ayida and Oronsaye reports and ensure that they are posted online for ease of access,” the group said.

Agora policy said the announcement by the federal government that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had decided to implement aspects of the Oronsaye Report was welcome.

 However, it explained that 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 stated that to merge agencies, government would need to repeal the laws of the agencies being merged and enact  new laws, while there may even be a need for constitutional amendment, which is a much difficult undertaking.

Although the government has announced a 10-member implementation committee for this initiative, it stated that that body can only look at things superficially.

“If any progress at all is to be made in the 12 weeks that the committee has been allotted for its assignment, it will be important to put in place a merger committee for each agency that is to be merged.

“That merger committee will develop a plan for the merger, with a realistic timeframe and budget for implementation. It will be able to get into the details of what is required and then report to the 10-member committee for policy decisions.

“One of the things that the 10-member committee must provide guidance on is what the purpose of the merger is. Is it to improve service delivery, to raise productivity or just to cut costs? If it is to cut costs, what costs will it cut? Is it feasible that there will really be no job losses as the Minister of Information announced?

“Mergers cost money and there is a need to develop a budget and ensure the release of funds,” Agora policy said.

Without an independent inventory of assets in each agency to be merged, it maintained that there is real risk of significant asset flight.

“Even if each agency is asked to produce a list of assets (buildings, vehicles, computers, bank balances, etc) and liabilities on its own, it would need to be independently verified.

“Otherwise, there is a very real possibility that an entire building or a number of luxury vehicles would simply disappear. It is unlikely that the 10-member committee will be able to conduct this audit by itself.

“It may have to commission a set of public servants (say, from the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation) or engage external accounting firms to do it. Either way, it will cost money and it take some time,” it added.