Minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, has assured that no job would be affected by the implementation of the Oronsaye Report, which aims to streamline government agencies and parastatals.
Idris made this statement available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja at the fourth edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing Series.
“The whole idea is that the government wants to cut cost and also enhance efficiency in service delivery. It does not mean that the government is out to sack workers or push people into the labour market,” he said.
Idris said the implementation of the report, which has been lying dormant for about 11 years, is a clear indication of President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility and good governance by leading a comprehensive review of the government‘s commissions, agencies, and parastatals.
He said the approval for the implementation of the Oronsaye Report, which followed a very thorough review, is to ensure that essential services are not affected and that the needs of citizens are well met while putting the interests of the nation above all else.
“Through the implementation of Oronsaye’s report, President Tinubu aims to achieve considerable cost savings by eliminating overlapping functions, simplifying administrative processes, and maximizing resource allocation.
“This proactive approach will enable the government to operate more effectively while maintaining the quality and delivery of services to the Nigerian people,” he said.
The minister, who said Nigerians are starting to see the benefits of the reforms being driven by the president in various sectors, emphasized that reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that Nigeria recorded a GDP growth of 3.46% in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to 2.54% recorded in the third quarter of 2023.
He added that the NBS report also states that capital importation increased to 66% in the fourth quarter of 2023, reversing a 36% drop in the third quarter. Petrol importation has been reduced by 50% since the removal of the fuel subsidy, while the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index reached the 100,000 mark – its highest ever.
He said the achievements being made in the economy were not just a matter of luck but mainly due to the practical reforms initiated by the president, which boosted investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.
The minister said the president has also given a directive for the design of a Social Security Unemployment Programme to cater for the unemployed graduates as well as the setting up of a Social Consumer Credit Scheme to increase the purchasing power of Nigerians, as they cope with the temporary economic difficulty.
He said after the review of the National Social Investment Programme, the president has given approval for the resumption of the direct payment of N25,000 to 15 million households.
