According to the minister, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is working on an “exit package” for government employees who would be leaving the service.
According to Zainab, lowering the size of government has become necessary due to the massive amount of money the government spends on recurring spending each year.
She stated that the cut will be based on a committee proposal rather than the Stephen Oronsaye report.
The government, she claims, is working on an “exit package” that will be paid to individuals who would be affected.
“There is a special committee led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) that is working on the review of agencies with the view to collapsing them partly using the Oransanye report,” the minister said.
“At the end of it what we want to do is to reduce the size of government and also to reduce the size of personnel cost and part of it will be designing the exit packages that are realistic”.
She disclosed that the workers would lose their jobs after the merger of some government agencies.
According to the minister, agencies would be merged because the government is “revenue-challenged”.
This has however not gone down well with labor unions in the country, with many calling for caution.
The unions have asked the Federal Government to ensure that those who would be affected by the downsizing be paid their full entitlements.
Presidents of two Federal Workers’ unions who spoke with The Nation are Comrade Lawrence Amaechi, President, Nigeria Civil Service Union, and President, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Dr. Tommy Okon.
In separate interviews, Amaechi said: “Before they implement they will put us in their committee and if we are satisfied that Mr. A must go where is his cheque?
“If at the time of implementation we are satisfied that Mr. A must go we will ask where is his cheque? Is it complete? Give it to him and he will go and better his life.
“The Oronsaye committee white paper has long been gazetted. At this point, we cannot stop it. It is just to follow the implementation; how it will not affect our workers badly.
“When the implementation starts we will know how to fight it.”
On his part, President, ASCSN, Dr. Okon, said: “We have to meet as a Congress and take a decision that will be all-encompassing. I cannot speak on the position yet until we meet. Once we meet then we will make our position known.”
