THE Senate has urged the Federal Government to adhere to proper procedures when eliminating and consolidating various ministries, parastatals, agencies, commissions, and boards in order to reduce the cost of governance.
The government had earlier announced its intention to adopt the recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye committee, which proposed the abolition of ministries, including the National Film And Video Censors Board (NFVCB), as a cost-saving measure.
However, members of the Senate believe that before such actions are taken, the National Assembly should be consulted.
This position initiated by Senator Ogoshi Onawo was moved during a discussion on a motion regarding the urgent need to halt the dissolution of the National Film and Video Censors Board.
The motion highlighted that a committee led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, was moving forward with the implementation of the Oronsaye report without engaging the Legislature.
It was revealed that a directive from Akume, as stated in a cabinet memo, instructed the Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy to dissolve the NFVCB and integrate it as a department within the ministry rather than operate as a separate federal agency.
The Senate expressed concerns that this instruction contravened the National Film and Video Censors Board Act of 2004, raising issues of legality since the National Assembly had not been consulted for the necessary legislative processes.
Consequently, the Senate recommended that the SGF and the minister halt the dismantling of the NFVCB immediately if it was indeed underway.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio cautioned his colleagues to proceed carefully, especially as there was no evidence linking Akume’s memo to the Oronsaye committee report. He stressed““ the importance of presenting all relevant Acts to parliament for repeal in accordance with the established procedures if the government chooses to implement the Oronsaye committee’s recommendations.