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20 Insights Into Oronsaye Report As EFCC, FRSC, Others Set For Merger
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After years of clamour by Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu on Monday ordered the full implementation of the Oronsaye report.
By implementing the report, several agencies of the government would be merged, subsumed, scrapped, and relocated.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this to State House correspondents after Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Here are things to know about the report
– President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, in 2012, set up the Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies.
– The committee was headed by a retired federal civil servant and former Head of Service of the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye.
– After their painstaking assignment, the committee recommended the scrapping and merging of 220 out of the then existing 541 government agencies.
– If implemented, no fewer than 102 heads of agencies and parastatals will lose their jobs.
– The committee’s 800-page report noted that the government’s parastatals and agencies’ functions are overlapping.
– The committee recommended the reduction of statutory agencies from 263 to 161.
– The committee recommended the abolition of 38 agencies, the merger of 52 and the reversion of 14 to departments in ministries.
– The committee also recommended the management audit of 89 agencies capturing biometric features of staff as well as the discontinuation of government funding of professional bodies/councils.
– Oronsaye said then that if the committee’s recommendation was implemented, the government would be saving over N862 billion between 2012 and 2015.
– The breakdown showed that about N124.8 billion would be reduced from agencies proposed for abolition; about N100.6 billion from agencies proposed for mergers; about N6.6 billion from professional bodies; N489.9 billion from universities; N50.9 billion from polytechnics; N32.3 billion from colleges of education and N616 million from boards of federal medical centres.
– If implemented, agencies that may be affected include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and Federal Road Safety Commission.
– Other agencies cited doing overlapping functions are the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited, the National Broadcasting Commission and the Nigeria Communications Commission in the area of frequency allocation.
– Also, the Universal Basic Education Commission, Nomadic Education Commission, and National Mass Literacy Commission are performing overlapping functions and should be brought under one body.
– The committee again believes NTA, FRCN, and VON should be under one management.
– After the committee’s report, the White paper committee set up by Jonathan’s administration rejected most of the recommendations, while those accepted were not implemented.
– In November 2021, the Federal Government inaugurated two committees; one of the committees was to review the Orosanye report and its white paper chaired by Goni Aji, a retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
– The second committee was constituted to review agencies created from 2014 till date, chaired by Amal Pepple, also a retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
– Upon submission of their reports, the Federal Government in July 2022 set up another committee chaired by Ebele Okeke, a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to produce a white paper on the reports.
– Speaking during the presentation of the white paper to the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, in Abuja, Okeke stressed that it is important to discuss with the leadership of the National Assembly to achieve the desired result, adding that most of the agencies created were products of bills from the National Assembly.
– She said, “The committee observed that the legal framework/enabling Act of some of the PACs did not clearly define structure, management, and oversight. Most of the laws were used by agency, commission and board interchangeably. For instance, where the organisation is defined as a commission, the provisions of the law did not support the structure of a commission. In this regard, the committee recommended a change in status/name, and amendment of the Act/Law.
“The committee observed that most of the agencies created (especially under Education and Health) were Bills that emanated from the National Assembly. It is, therefore, important to engage and dialogue with the National Assembly to generate an understanding to streamline the creation of new PACs.
“It is noteworthy that some of the recommendations can be considered as low-hanging fruits that can be implemented immediately after approval of the white paper.”
News
Davido vows not to apologize posting Okpebolo’s ‘fine’ WAEC results
Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has explained why he would not apologise to Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo, over his social media post displaying the governor’s alleged West African Examinations Council result.
According to him, he did nothing wrong by sharing the result, insisting that he was only informing Edo residents about what he described as their governor’s academic record.
The singer stated this in an exclusive interview with News Central on Tuesday in Osun.
He said, “I’m not going to apologise. I didn’t do anything wrong. I was just telling people of the state the results their governor has.”
The controversy followed comments by Okpebholo during political activities ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election, in which he criticised Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke.
Okpebholo had mocked Adeleke over his dancing, questioning his leadership style while campaigning for the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.
He said, “Before somebody signs paper, he will dance. Are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing. Before he takes breakfast, before he drinks tea, he will dance.”
In response, Davido, who is Adeleke’s nephew and had actively campaigned for his uncle, shared what appeared to be Okpebholo’s WAEC result on his Instagram Story on Friday.
The post, which had no caption, generated reactions on social media, with a commentator, Tugbiyele, describing the publication as inappropriate and disrespectful and calling on Davido to apologise.
However, reacting to the call, Davido defended his action and criticised Okpebholo for travelling to Osun to comment on his uncle.
He said, “Yes, and you came, you left your state, you came to another state. You came in and then started talking that my uncle is a dancer; he is not serious.
“The road to your Government House is not done. My uncle is not serious. First of all, you were not even elected; you were selected.”
Davido further questioned Okpebholo’s understanding of electoral victory, saying, “You don’t know what it means to win an election. That’s why you could go there and talk.”
The singer also criticised the governor over his comments about Adeleke and said he sympathised with Okpebholo’s children.
He said, “I feel so bad for his kids. Because you see what my dad is doing. Do you understand? Yeah, you’re abusing a sitting governor in his own state.”
Davido also mocked Okpebholo over his alleged stay in a hotel, saying, “A whole governor staying in a hotel, walking around like…”
He warned the Edo governor that Adeleke would respond politically when the time came.
He said, “In fact, finish your three years, we’ll visit you when it’s time for you to get re-elected.”
Tugbiyele, in a video originally posted on Facebook, had appealed to Davido to apologise to Okpebholo, arguing that the singer should not have personally responded to the governor’s comments about Adeleke.
He said, “I watched a video when Governor Okpebholo called the governor of my state, Adeleke, the dancing governor. And the governor’s relation, David Adeleke, replied by publishing the WAEC Secondary School leaving result of Governor Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State.”
Tugbiyele said that although the alleged result might not have been impressive, it should not have been used to ridicule the governor.
He said, “The result is not good enough, but it’s possible. The governor did a resit. We are not aware of that, but I think Davido, David Adeleke’s publication is inappropriate.”
He argued that Adeleke could have responded to his Edo counterpart through official channels rather than allowing Davido to engage in the exchange.
Tugbiyele concluded with a direct appeal to Davido, saying, “Davido, David Adeleke, please, as a proper Yoruba, please apologise to Governor Okpebholo. God bless you, David. God bless Nigeria.”
News
UK Parents Accuse Cyprus IVF Clinics Of Using Wrong Sperm, Egg Donors
At least 30 children, most of them British, are feared to have been conceived through IVF treatment in northern Cyprus using sperm or egg donors different from those selected by their parents.
The cases were uncovered by a BBC investigation involving families who say they carefully chose anonymous donors based on factors including medical history, appearance, personality, education and interests.
However, the parents later became concerned that the donors they had selected were not used during their fertility treatment.
Half of the 30 children were born following treatment at the Dogus IVF Centre, where several members of staff were involved in the care of affected patients.
The families’ concerns have raised questions about the regulation of fertility clinics in northern Cyprus, a territory recognised internationally only by Turkey and outside the European Union’s regulatory framework.
Clinics in the territory have become popular among British patients seeking IVF treatment because of lower costs, high advertised success rates and access to a wide range of sperm and egg donors.
One mother, identified as Rachel, said she was “absolutely scandalised” after discovering that the sperm donor she had selected for her treatment at Dogus may not have been used.
Rachel underwent treatment at the clinic in 2012 and selected an anonymous Danish sperm donor through Cryos International, the world’s largest sperm bank.
She said she chose the donor because his profile indicated that he would be willing for any biological children to contact him once they turned 18.
But after her son Jonah was born, Rachel became concerned that he did not resemble the donor described in the profile.
She said she repeatedly asked the clinic for medical documentation confirming that the donor’s sperm had been used, but never received the information she wanted.
Thirteen years later, DNA testing carried out by Rachel and Jonah indicated that he was biologically related to her but did not have the genetic ancestry expected from the Danish donor she had selected.
The BBC contacted Cryos International, which said it had no record of supplying sperm to Dogus for Rachel’s treatment.
The revelation has left Rachel concerned that her son may have been deprived of the opportunity to identify and contact his biological donor in the future.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there are genetic siblings out there,” she said.
At least 11 of the 30 children identified by the BBC have undergone commercial DNA testing. The results indicate that they have genetic ancestry from Turkey or surrounding regions, raising further questions about whether the donors selected by their parents were used.
Most of the children who have taken DNA tests were conceived through IVF at Dogus between 2012 and 2024.
Fertility experts consulted by the BBC said the number of cases was highly unusual.
The British Fertility Society said the apparent use of incorrect donors on multiple occasions could indicate “negligence” or “deception” and suggested that the issue could reflect a systemic problem rather than the actions of a single doctor or clinic.
Several staff members have been linked to the cases at Dogus.
Dr Sevket Alpturk, the clinic’s owner and responsible manager, treated the parents of six children whose families have told the BBC they suspect the wrong donors were used.
The BBC approached Alpturk with the allegations, but he did not respond.
Dr Firdevs Uguz Tip treated nine of the other children linked to Dogus. She has denied misleading patients and said Alpturk was responsible for signing off procedures at the clinic.
Firdevs later worked at other clinics, including Miracle IVF, which she currently runs. Nine additional cases identified by the BBC involved patients treated by her after she left Dogus in 2015.
She said her clinic has complied with the law and that patients sign consent forms explaining how donors are selected.
However, several parents told the BBC they were not properly informed about the donor arrangements.
Patient co-ordinator Julie Hodson, who was a main point of contact for many British patients at Dogus, has also been linked to several of the cases.
Emails seen by the BBC show Hodson telling patients that Firdevs would arrange orders for sperm from Cryos.
Firdevs disputes this, saying the procurement of sperm was not part of her responsibilities and that she did not know patients were being told otherwise.
The BBC contacted Hodson about the allegations, including claims that she failed to place or pass on donor requests, but she did not respond.
Cryos International said it was shocked by the number of families who could have been affected.
The sperm bank told the BBC that it had blacklisted Dogus in 2016 after concerns that the clinic had failed to order Cryos sperm for a patient despite telling the patient that it would.
Cryos has since suspended its relationship with Firdevs and Miracle IVF while an investigation by the northern Cyprus authorities continues.
The territory’s Ministry of Health said earlier this year that it had launched an official investigation into the allegations. However, the ministry has not responded to repeated requests from the BBC for an update.
Firdevs has said she was cleared of breaking any laws, although the BBC has been unable to independently verify that claim with the Ministry of Health.
The UK Foreign Office has also updated its travel advice, warning that fertility treatment in northern Cyprus carries risks because of the lack of regulation and advising people seeking treatment there to conduct thorough research.
The allegations have left affected families facing uncertainty over their children’s biological origins and potential genetic medical histories.
Laura Bridgens, founder of Donor Conceived UK, described the reports as deeply troubling and said donor-conceived people have a fundamental right to know the truth about their origins.
For families such as Rachel’s, the issue goes beyond the circumstances of their children’s conception.
Rachel said she loves her son and that the discovery does not change their relationship, but she remains upset that Jonah may have lost the opportunity to know his biological donor.
“Even so, what happened is not OK,” she said. “It’s a huge deal and could have been absolutely traumatising for him.”
The investigation has raised questions about how many other families could have been affected and whether authorities will be able to establish how the alleged donor mix-ups occurred.
News
Pastor queries Tonto Dikeh for setting up church
Nigerian pastor, Pastor Andrew Emajere of COGA Ministries has questioned former Nollywood actress and evangelist Tonto Dikeh’s decision to establish a new prayer ministry in Abuja.
The pastor raised concerns about the growing number of people venturing into christian ministry, questioning the process through which individuals become church leaders.
Reacting to Tonto Dikeh’s new prayer ministry, Emajere asked, “What does Tonto Dikeh know in the spiritual world that convinced her to open a prayer ministry? She built a church worth of 300 million, how did we arrive here?”
He argued that there should be stricter screening for people who want to establish churches.
“If I become president, before you can open a church you must pass through screening. Christianity has now turned [into] something else.”
Emajere also compared the situation with Islam, questioning whether similar developments would be accepted within the religion.
“Have you seen a woman open mosque and call herself a female Imam or Alfa? People don’t take Christianity serious in this country,” he said.
The pastor further questioned Tonto Dikeh’s transition from entertainment to Christian ministry, asking.
“Which day did she repent in Pastor Jerry Eze’s church that she is already a General Overseer? How did we arrive here?”
He also expressed concern about the role of public figures in Christian ministry.
“A woman that has not handled her kitchen duties finish, you went ahead to put them in Christianity, why won’t confusion come in?” He asked.
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