2011:
The Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions, and Agencies is set up by then-President Goodluck Jonathan, under the leadership of former Head of Civil Service, Stephen Oronsaye.
2012:
The Oronsaye report is submitted, revealing the existence of 541 statutory and non-statutory Federal Government parastatals, commissions, and agencies. It recommends reducing 263 statutory agencies to 161, scrapping 38 agencies, merging 52, reverting 14 to departments within ministries, and transferring the functions of the National Salaries and Wages Commission.
April 2020:
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and falling oil prices, President Muhammadu Buhari convenes a committee to consider the report’s recommendations for implementation to reduce the cost of governance.
November 2021:
The Federal Government inaugurates two committees on the report. One, chaired by retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Goni Aji, to review the Oronsaye report and its White Paper. The second, chaired by another former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Ms. Amal Pepple, to review agencies created from 2014 till date.
July 2022:
The Federal Government convenes another committee chaired by a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Ebele Okeke, to produce a white paper on the reports.
August 2022:
The Okeke-led committee presents the White Paper to the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
December 2022:
Despite the Oronsaye report’s recommendations, the Senate proposes the establishment of 376 new agencies and institutions, highlighting a significant increase in government size contrary to the report’s advice for reduction and consolidation.
January 2023:
Newspapers report that President Buhari would not be able to implement the report due to the White Paper being reviewed by the National Assembly before it comes to FEC.
February 2024:
President Bola Tinubu charges senior civil service officials to work towards a modern, efficient civil service
February 26, 2024:
President Bola Tinubu directs the implementation of the Oransaye report and a committee is set up to implement within a 12week timeline.
