Oronsaye Report: Yuguda, APC Back Tinubu, Advise Against Job Losses

Former Governor of Bauchi State, Malam Isa Yuguda, who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Professionals Forum, has commended President Bola Tinubu for embarking on cost-saving measures through his decision to implement the Stephen Oronsaye report on Federal Government agencies.

However, he urged a cautious implementation to avoid unnecessary job losses.

Yuguda, in a press conference organized by the forum, said that the President’s decision to finally implement the Oronsaye report, which was first submitted 12 years ago, would save the country about N300 billion annually on wanton expenditures.

He added that measures should be taken to avert job losses while implementing the report.

The forum also commended the President for taking bold steps in introducing economic reforms to tackle lingering challenges in the country.

These initiatives include the discontinuation of the multi-billion naira payment of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the unification of all foreign exchange rate windows, intervention programs in the agricultural sector to boost food production, and the implementation of the Oronsaye report.

While acknowledging the consequences of these actions on the price of foodstuffs and the general cost of living, the forum urged state governors to channel large portions of their increased federal allocations to food production and transportation to bring succor to the people.

The forum also highlighted the President’s efforts to read the riot act to government officials who were slowing down the impact of the reforms, which underlined his hands-on approach to governance.

In the third quarter of 2023, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a 3.46% growth in GDP, with the non-oil sector, especially the Agricultural and Services sectors, as the driving force.

The oil sector also saw a big leap for the first time in three years as a result of improved oil production.

The forum acknowledged President Tinubu’s role in lifting the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on Niger, Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, which were becoming counterproductive even though they were necessary to discourage military incursion into governance in the sub-region.

The forum believes that the Tinubu administration is on track and looks forward to providing a one-year score card of the administration by the time President Tinubu will be marking his first anniversary in office.