The President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, revealed that he
has directed that the Orosanye White Paper Report be subjected to immediate
review for the Federal Government to implement its general recommendation.
Buhari who revealed that the review is about to be completed
said its implementation would bring some fundamental changes to the structure
of the Civil Service.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on
Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said this when he received the
Central Working Committee of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of
Nigeria at the State House, Abuja.
The statement is titled ‘Oronsaye report will lead to fundamental changes in our civil service, president Buhari assures.’
Submitted in 2011, the Oronsaye report has been a subject of
controversy as it proposes, among other things, the merging and outright
scrapping of over 263 government agencies.
It also proposed that the law establishing the National
Salaries and Wages Commission be repealed and its functions taken over by the
Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Responsibility Commission. This, it said, would
save the government N2bn.
While noting that public service, as the engine room of
government, should attract the “best and brightest’’ the President said, “I
have directed that the Orosanye White Paper Report be subjected to immediate
review to enable the Government take the most appropriate decision on its
general recommendation.
“I am aware that the review is about to be completed. While
some may complain about the length of time it has taken thus far, the outcome
of the various review teams would lead to some fundamental changes in the
structure of our Civil Service and as such it must be subjected to rigorous
review and scrutiny before presentation and implementation.”
He explained that the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation will submit the harmonized white paper once it has been concluded.
The President noted that his regime remains focused on
strengthening the service and ensuring it helps the government fulfill its
objectives. He also appreciated civil servants for their role in realizing
targets of the FG.
Responding to the committee’s request for the review of civil
servants’ salaries, the President said while such a review is urgently needed
due to global inflation, the FG is working within tight revenue constraints
caused by the diversion of resources to urgent security threats nationwide.
“I wish to urge you to appreciate the revenue constraints
being presently faced by the Government which is caused mainly by the
activities of unscrupulous citizens through the theft of our crude oil, a major
contributor to our revenue base.
“This is compounded by the global economic downturn as a
result of the on-going Russian–Ukrainian war, which has led to price increases
not just in the costs of goods and services globally, but also in the
transportation of these goods and services across the globe.
“You are also aware of the enormous burden placed on our
finances by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, let me note the significant
investment we have had to make in security over the last seven years, which
means other sectors of the economy have not been able to receive as much
funding as we would have liked. Only when our country is secured, that we are
able to proceed and take on other aspects of our economic challenges,’’ Buhari
explained.
The President also told the ASCSN that its request for
restoration of the payment of gratuity to public service employees was one of
the landmark provisions addressed in the 2004 Pension Reform Act.
“Therefore, implementing your request for the payment of a
bulk sum of gratuity to retired civil servants would negate the intent and
provisions of the Act.
“It should be acknowledged that a change in the
implementation of the Act would require an amendment by the National Assembly.
But more importantly, the Pension Reform Act is a better designed and robust
system that allows for safety of pensioners funds and its payment,” he said.
On the harmonization of salary in the Public Service, Buhari
said a Committee was set up for that purpose, under the Minister of Finance
which was still working.
Buhari said the Head of Service of the Federation had been
directed to liaise with other relevant government agencies to see how the 2023
budget estimates can accommodate an increase in the budget of the Federal
Government Staff Housing Loans Board.
Further, he explained that investment in security assets had
been at a huge cost, after several decades of negligence.
Buhari also expressed “unshaken” confidence in the Nigerian
Armed forces saying “Recent reports have shown the message is now being heard
and the dividends of our seven years of investments are now maturing.
“I implore our forces to continue with the current effort
and determination until we rid our land of these miscreants.”
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, said
members of ASCSN had been supportive in actualizing programmes and policies of
the administration, describing the leadership as mostly public servants that
were vast in civil service procedure, “so when you negotiate with them it is
easy and when you make the right point they know.’’
In his remarks earlier, the President of ASCSN, Dr Tommy
Okon, noted that the regime had been “worker-friendly’’ with the implementation
of far-reaching reforms.
He called for an increase in salaries of civil servants,
following increasing cost of living, restoring full payment of gratuity at
retirement, harmonization of public service salaries and allowances, and an
increase in the budget of the National Housing Fund.
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