The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, promised to protect the interest of workers as the Federal Government moves to implement the 2012 Oronsaye Report, which proposes the merger and scrapping of ministries, agencies and departments in the federal civil service.

The Oronsaye Report, which aims to reduce the cost of governance, was put together in 2012 during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan but it was never implemented.

It was recently dusted by President Bola Tinubu for implementation.

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives held a public hearing on the report.

At the hearing, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Restructuring of Government Agencies, Parastatals and Commission, Ibrahim Isiaka, allayed the fear of job loss by civil servants.

Isiaka said that the committee would not act without going through due process, telling the workers “We are not going to scrap your head behind you.”

“We will invite all organisations where you will have the opportunity to speak.

“We assure you that many of the fears you are entertaining regarding laying off of staff, we will not allow that and look into your document,” he said.

The Tinubu-led Federal Executive Council on February 26, 2024, approved the implementation of the Oronsaye Report.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, went on to inaugurate an eight-member committee on March 7.

The committee was saddled with the responsibility of implementing recommendations in the report within 12 weeks.

Meanwhile, the National President, Directors Guild of Nigeria and Chairman Federation of Registered Nollywood Guilds and Association, Dr. Okhai, Ajingi, called for the preservation of the Nigeria Film and Video Censored Board autonomy.

He said that this would safeguard the future of Nollywood, which he described as a vital cultural and economic asset.

“By upholding the NFCVB’s independence, the committee can ensure that Nigeria’s cinema thrives, entertain and inspire audiences both domestically and internationally,” he said.

punch