I would have implemented Oronsaye report, says Obi

Innocent Raphael

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 polls, Peter Obi, has stated that if he was Nigeria’s president at this time, he would have implemented the Oronsaye Report.

Obi’s comments came after reports of President Tinubu ordering a full implementation of the Oronsaye-led committee’s report.

Obi, who disclosed this in a statement said implementation of the Oronsaye Report become necessary because of numerous texts he had received on the matter, revealed that prior to this time, he had affirmed during campaigns that he would have worked with the committee’s findings.

According to him,  “I have received several text messages from people wanting to know if I would have implemented the Oronsaye Report, which full implementation has just been directed by the President.

“In response to their questions, I would like to refer everyone to my Manifesto and my response to similar questions during my campaigns. On the 5th of October, 2022 at Havard University, I was asked: “Will you implement the Oronsaye Report?” and I responded in the affirmative,” he wrote.

The former Anambra State governor further asserted that implementing the report was one of the best ways to make governance efficient, cost-effective, and productive.

He stressed that being in opposition does not warrant blind and thoughtless criticism, adding that whenever the government takes the right decision, they should be applauded and supported with better ideas.

Addressing the development further, Obi said he has always been an advocate of the three critical components of the Oronsaye Report, which are – drastically cutting the cost of governance; ii) eliminating the overlapping of responsibilities to ensure that responsibilities are appropriately domiciled; and iii) increasing efficiency and effectiveness, which will increase productivity.

According to Mr Obi, although the implementation of the report was long overdue, he noted that the implementation was a welcome development so long as the decision is informed by the core principles of the report.

He also pointed out that political leaders while implementing the report, should go further to cut the cost of governance across board while making sacrifices of comfort and selfishness.

The former Governor further advised that in implementing this Report, conscious effort must be made by the Federal Government to cushion the effects of such a major overhaul on the workers, to avoid driving more people into hardship, in these very challenging times.