Empower NOA or scrap it

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) was created by Decree 100 of 1993 in August of the same year, just a few days before the end of the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, as an agency under the Federal Ministry of Information. Its main function is to disseminate information from the federal level to the […]

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) was created by Decree 100 of 1993 in August of the same year, just a few days before the end of the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, as an agency under the Federal Ministry of Information. Its main function is to disseminate information from the federal level to the grassroots.

The NOA took over the functions of the Public Enlightenment unit of the ministry, the War Against Indiscipline, created by  the Buhari military administration, the National Orientation Movement and the Mass Mobilisation for Self-Reliance and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), created by Babangida in 1987.

Its key function is to raise the consciousness about key decisions of the government.  Specifically, its roles include mobilising favourable public opinion for government programmes and policies, raising consciousness of Nigerians about the unity of the country, fostering respect for constituted authority,  inculcating the spirit of patriotism, nationalism, self-discipline and self-reliance and to awaken the consciousness of Nigerians to their responsibilities to the promotion of national unity.

In simple terms, the agency was given a responsibility of ensuring conscious citizens that would galvanise development in the country. Going by the activities of its predecessors, especially MAMSER, it was hoped that NOA would build on their past achievements to achieve a conscious society. Sadly, like many laudable programmes embarked upon by the government, over the years, the agency has become moribund; hardly heard by Nigerians. And this is happening despite the fact that the agency has offices in all the local government councils of the country.   In Nigeria at the moment, the importance of NOA carrying out its responsibilities cannot be overemphasised, considering the vices in all areas. The youths are becoming misguided, and looking for ways of making easy money. Misinformation and disinformation have taken root, especially on social media platforms, and there is a general drop in moral values and lack of patriotism.

In the face of all this, it was expected that the NOA would be seen and heard through jingles, advertisements, messages on billboards stating the true position of things, promoting cultural values and harping on the need for patriotism and to generally redirect the thinking of citizens. Sadly, that is not being done. In fact the NOA has become a lame duck, totally absent.

Some staff of the agency have attributed this situation to lack of funds.  Also, the deteriorating security situation in the country has made the work of the agency much more difficult as many of its staff, it was gathered, were forced to leave their duty posts in fear for their lives.

But then, it must be pointed out that the agency was created with a mandate and it has staff members who are being paid salaries with tax payers’ money.  This, therefore, means that the work for which they were employed must be carried out.

We urge the agency to endeavour to carry out its functions with the funds available to it and to seek other ways of raising funds through partnerships with non-governmental agencies and donor agencies to perform its duties.

We also call on the government to create an enabling environment for the agency to carry out its duties effectively.  Indeed Nigeria needs NOA now more than ever before given the present state of the nation. With the high rate of illiteracy in the country and the inability of governments to reach some areas of the country to explain their programmes, it is imperative for NOA to be up and doing.  In recent years, we have had many national programmes and issues, such as the oil subsidy, National Identity Number,  COVID-19 vaccination, among many more, which needed every Nigerian’s buy-in,  but could not get that due to lack of sensitisation and feedback.  There is also the high rate of  drug abuse, ritual killings, rape, ethnic and religious bigotry as well as many ills about which the NOA can sensitise Nigerians, with a view to causing change.

Furthermore, ahead of the general elections which will come up in less than a year, the agency could play a big role in sensitising people about the need to go out and cast their vote in a peaceful manner.

Therefore, officials of NOA must develop a blueprint that will enable them to perform their duties. The officials should work with the government to ensure that the agency delivers on its mandate. The government, on its part, must empower the agency to work, and if it is not ready to do so, then it should  scrap the agency, as there is no need for it to keep existing if it cannot add value to the lives of citizens and the country as a whole.