Wages Commission Should Stop Approving Salaries

The Committee on the Review of New Parastatals, Agencies And Commissions created after submission of the Report on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies and Commission, aka Oransanye report, has called on the Federal Government to stop the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission from approving salaries.

The committee also said the establishment of new agencies, commission, among others should be prohibited.

The Chairman of the committee, Amal Pepple, stated this while submitting the report on Tuesday in Abuja.

She also said political office holders must adhere to the terms of their engagement in respect to the appointment of aides.

Pepple said, “The recommendations of the Committee were strictly guided by the Terms of Reference and focussed on reducing cost of governance, improving cost efficiency, eliminating duplication or overlapping functions and propriety/impropriety of Government funding professional associations.

“It is, therefore, important that the following critical recommendations are given utmost consideration: placing moratorium on creation of new Federal Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions;

“Direct the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission to adhere strictly to the Act establishing it and henceforth desist from approving salaries; and strict adherence by political office holders to the terms of their engagement especially in relation to appointment of aides.”

Pepple noted that the country is faced with a fierce urgency of reducing the cost of governance to improve the living standards of the populace and not use government as a source of avoidable wasteful spending.

She added that this is more pertinent considering the fact that the 2022 budget has a recurrent expenditure of 40.3% (N6.91trillion) and a Capital Budget of 31.9% (N5.471), while the balance is made up of debt servicing and statutory allocations.

Speaking , the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said a White Paper Committee would be set up to review the report of the Committee on Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions created between 2012 and October 2021.

He said, “The submission of your reports today gives us an opportunity to move quickly with concluding this almost ten years problem. Like the Petroleum Industry Act that took more than two decades to conclude, this administration will also conclude this and timely too before it becomes embroiled in other matters.

“Your recommendations are noted and the government’s position would be made known as soon as possible. On the other hand, a White Paper Committee would be set up to review the report of the Committee on Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions created between 2012 and October 2021.

“I want to assure you that all outstanding actions to finalise the issue of restructuring and rationalisation would be addressed in the shortest possible time.”