Over 400 MDAs risk scrapping as Senate okays Orosanye report

The Senate Committee on Finance has revealed that over 400 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are to be scrapped as recommended by Stephen Orosanye-led Presidential Committee on rationalization of agencies.

This disclosure was made on Wednesday by the committee’s chairman, Senator Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Lagos), at the ongoing interface between the Committee and heads of MDAs on revenue drive for the implementation of proposed N19.76 trillion 2023 budget.

Olamilekan said 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.

Also speaking 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.

Irked by the poor revenue generation, Senator Adeola said it was unacceptable for an agency spending N500m a year outside capital projects to be remitting N5m into government coffers.

“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.

“We, in the Senate, are in support of implementation of the Orosanye led panel report to save the economy from self – inflicted bleeding,” he said.