Toba Owojaiye ReportingÂ
Prominent social media political influencers are raising their voices, expressing their concerns about the urgent need to merge various ministries and parastatals that have similar or overlapping functions. These calls are directed towards President Bola Tinubu.
The proposed mergers include:
1. Transforming the National Security minting and printing functions into a department under the Central Bank.
2. Consolidating the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) with the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA).
3. Combining the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
These suggestions have ignited a mixed response from the public.
Some argue that the proliferation of agencies has been a significant drain on the country’s resources for many years. They believe that merging these entities would enhance transparency, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and improve the ease of doing business. Additionally, reference is made to the Oronsaye Report, which addressed similar concerns, suggesting that President Tinubu seems poised to swiftly implement these changes.
However, a dissenting opinion opposes the proposed mergers, expressing concern about potential job losses. They argue that President Tinubu had promised to create more employment opportunities, not to eliminate existing ones.
Considering the country’s high recurrent expenditures for ministries and parastatals, mounting debt, and recent subsidy removal, the success or failure of these mergers remains uncertain.