The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for endorsing the Oronsaye report.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Tinubu, recently greenlit the comprehensive implementation of the Oronsaye report, aimed at reducing governance costs and enhancing efficiency across the board.
Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, emphasized that this decision aligns with the imperative to streamline governance expenses and optimize effectiveness.
In response to this development, Obi, In a series of posts via his X handle on Wednesday, February 28, acknowledged the government’s decision, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan recognition when the government makes sound decisions. He reiterated his stance on implementing the Oronsaye report, emphasizing its potential to streamline governance, enhance productivity, and optimize resources.
However, Obi cautioned against hasty implementation, particularly considering the impact on civil servants. He stressed the need for a nuanced understanding of federal bureaucracy and its intricate connections across different tiers of government. Obi highlighted the necessity for political leaders to demonstrate readiness to make sacrifices for the nation’s overall development.
Obi wrote: “I have received several text messages from people wanting to know if I would have implemented the Oronsaye Report, which full implementation has just been directed by the President. In response to their questions, I would like to refer everyone to my Manifesto and my response to similar questions during my campaigns. On the 5th of October, 2022 at Havard University, I was asked: “Will you implement the Oronsaye Report?” and I responded in the affirmative.
“I went further to explain that implementing the report is one of the best ways to make governance efficient, cost-effective, and productive. Being in opposition does not warrant blind and thoughtless criticism. Whenever the government takes the right decision, we should agree and if need be, propose related or even better ideas to move the nation forward.
“I have always been an advocate of the 3 critical components of the Oronsaye Report, which are: i) drastically cutting the cost of governance; ii) eliminating the overlapping of responsibilities to ensure that responsibilities are appropriately domiciled; and iii) increasing efficiency and effectiveness, which will increase productivity.
“However, we must not rush to implement the Oronsaye Report just because those that will be directly affected are mostly civil servants. A very deep understanding of the workings of the Federal bureaucracy will be required to effectively implement the Report. Grasping the symetries between the federal and the other tiers of government will be imperative as Federal agencies have branches and outreaches in all the 36 states.
“We the political leaders, should be ready to back up such implementation with our sacrifices from comfort and selfishness, for the overall development of the nation. In implementing this Report, conscious effort must be made to cushion the effects of such a major overhaul on the workers, to avoid driving more people into hardship, in these very challenging times.”