FG Set To Scrap FRSC, Christian Pilgrims Commission, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) 4 Others

The Federal Government has considered scrapping seven (7) major government agencies, following President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to consider the recommendations of Stephen Oransaye-led report on “Restructuring and Rationalisation of the Federal Government’s Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies”.

These agencies are:
1. Fiscal Responsibility Commission,
2. National Poverty Eradication Programme,
3. Utilities Charges Commission (UCC),
4. National Economic Intelligence Committee,
5. Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC),
6. National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and
7. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

In the 103 pages of the white paper, the report stated that the Act establishing the listed agencies should be repealed, while also suggesting the merger of other bodies with similar responsibilities.

The document which was prepared by a seven-member committee and inaugurated on 18th August 2011 by the former President Goodluck Jonathan was expected to fully take effect in 2014 but was not implemented.

Nine years after it was inaugurated, Buhari on Thursday, 30th April directed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Head of Service (HoS) Dr. Folashade Yemi Esan to implement the report so as to prune down the cost of governance, as the COVID-19 pandemic bites hard on the country’s economy.

“It has reviewed the whole of the size of government and has made very significant recommendations in terms of reducing the number of agencies and that would mean merging some agencies.

“This is a report that has been in place for a long time and there hasn’t been implementation but the president has approved that this should be implemented and we have conveyed Mr President’s approval to the arms of government that are responsible for this and that will be the office of the secretary of government and the head of the civil service of the federation”, said Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

The Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR), an agency established to initiate government reform policies also acknowledged the changes in a tweet on Thursday.

The ICIR here highlights the functions of the seven agencies listed for scrap.

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission
The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) was established in 2007 by the Act of parliament to ensure prudent government expenditure. It also performs almost similar responsibilities with the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

The Committee advised that the FRC be closed down, a recommendation which was accepted by the Jonathan-led administration. Mohammed Adoke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Minister of Justice were further directed to commence needed actions to scrap the commission.

It was agreed that the RMAFC should also perform the responsibilities of FRC while the law establishing the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) should be repealed.

In view of this, activities of the NSIWC are to be governed by the RMAFC Act.

“The Committee recommends that the fiscal responsibility commission be abolished and its enabling law repealed as RMAFC is already empowered by the Constitution to carry out the functions,” it stated.

National Poverty Eradication Programme
The National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) is an initiative of the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, designed in 2001 to help reduce poverty in the country.

But, it is part of the programmes pencilled for scrap. The committee recommended that NAPEP should be integrated into a new organisation known as the National Agency for Job Creation and Empowerment (NAJCE) alongside Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN) and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).