By Ismail Auwal
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) risked being scrapped as Senators endorsed the Stephen Orosanye-led Presidential Committee on rationalization of agencies.
The Committee Chairman on Finance, Senator Adeola Olamilekan in an ongoing interface between the committee and heads of MDAs on revenue drive for the implementation of proposed N19.76 trillion 2023 budget said the legislators are in support of implementation of the Orosanye led panel report to save the economy from self-inflicted bleeding.
Olamilekan noted that revenue generation is the most critical factor being considered by the Federal Government to decide the 106 MDAs to be retained and over 400 others to be scrapped.
At the session, Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Rufus Ebegba, said only N2m had been generated by his agency this year as against the N5m generated in previous years.
Senator Adeola, who was unsettled by the poor revenue generation, said it was unacceptable for an agency that spends N500 million a year on non-capital projects to only remit N5 million to the government.
“There is no way in stopping the implementation of Orosanye panel because of economic situation in the country.
“Government needs revenue for impactful budget implementation, particularly in the area of projects execution and can no longer afford to be dolling money to MDAs without corresponding returns on yearly basis,” the senator said.
