The Federal Executive Council (FEC) is set to approve the scrapping of about 220 federal agencies, commissions and parastatals baring last minute change.
Presidential Media Adviser, Reuben Abati dropped the hint during post-Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
According to him, Council has commenced deliberation on the draft ministerial white paper following the submission of the Orosanye Committee report.
Last year, President Goodluck Jonathan had set up Steven Orosanye-led Presidential Committee charged with the responsibility of restructuring and rationalizing federal government agencies, commissions and parastatals.
Abati said the committee considered 521 agencies in all while the ministerial white paper drafting committee accepted 321, leaving 220 for scrapping.
“What council took today was the draft white paper for discussion and review. It is ongoing, that process will continue during the next meeting. I know that many people have expressed concerns on when the white paper will be released. This makes it very clear that works have been ongoing on the report of that committee.
“After the draft of that white paper was submitted, a review committee was set up by Mr. President which also considered the report and now it is being considered at the level of the FEC and you can be sure that in due course, the white paper with regards to the restructuring and rationalisation of government’s parastatals, agencies and commissions will be released,” Abati said.
He also allayed the fears of civil servants, saying the exercise was not meant to witch-hunt anybody but to save cost as well as ensuring efficient service delivery.
“There is no cause for any anxiety. The Oronsaye Committee considered suggestions, recommendations from different quarters and in total, that committee looked at 541 federal parastatals, commissions and agencies. The white paper drafting committee out of that accepted 321, noted some recommendations, and rejected some.
“At the end of the day, the FEC will take final decision on this recommendation and when that is done, the white paper will be made public. I don’t think we should jump the gun. The thing to note is that all of this is being done to ensure efficiency, to reduce the cost of government, to avoid leakages and wastages and to make government far more effective in delivering quality service to Nigerians.
“This is not targeted at pushing anybody out of work; this is not an exercise in making life difficult for anybody. This is just government restructuring for better level of efficiency. People should not be unduly anxious.
“You can be assured that now that it is at the level of the FEC, work will be completed on if very quickly, the white paper will be released and it will be implemented accordingly,” The Media Adviser said.
