The Federal Government has allayed the fear of job losses in the implementation of the Oronsaye Report, which seeks to rationalise government agencies and parastatals.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known at the fourth edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing Series in Abuja on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

“The whole idea is that government wants to reduce cost and also improve efficiency in service delivery. It does not mean that government is out to retrench workers or throw people into the labour market,” Idris said.

The minister noted that the implementation of the Oronsaye Report, which has been on the shelf for about 11 years, was a clear demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fiscal prudence and responsible governance by championing a comprehensive review of the government‘s commissions, agencies, and parastatals.

He said the approval for the implementation of the report was to ensure that essential services are not compromised and that the needs of Nigerians are adequately addressed while putting the interests of the nation first and foremost.

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“Through the implementation of Oronsaye’s Report, President Tinubu aims to achieve significant cost savings by eliminating duplication of functions, streamlining administrative processes, and optimising resource allocation. This proactive approach will enable the government to operate more efficiently while maintaining the quality and delivery of services to the Nigerian people,” Idris added.

The minister, who said Nigerians are beginning to see the benefits of the reforms being spearheaded by the president in various sectors, stressed that reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that Nigeria witnessed a GDP growth of 3.46 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023 as against 2.54 per cent recorded in the third quarter of 2023.

He added that the NBS report also stated that capital importation rose to 66 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023, reversing a 36 per cent decline in the third quarter.

“Petrol importation has been reduced by 50 per cent since the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy, while the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index crossed the 100,000 mark – its highest ever,” Idris said.

The Star