Policies: Residents fault NOA on enlightenment, awareness creation
Residents fault NOA on enlightenment,awareness creation
Enlightenment
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, March 28, 2018 (NAN) Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have called on the National Orientation Agency (NOA), to live up to its mandate of enlightening the citizens on government policies and programmes to enhance national unity.
In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, those who spoke described the current efforts of the agency as falling below standard.
Mr Martins Inalegwu, a resident said Nigerians were not well informed about the activities of the government, adding that it is the sole mandate of NOA to enlighten the citizens across the country.
“The agency is not doing enough to enlighten the citizenry; a lot of things are happening and most people especially those in the rural areas are not aware of such happenings.
“The peoples’ response to the government in power depends on the information and enlightenment they acquire through the agency and other platforms facilitated by the agency.
“The agency is suppose to serve as an information bridge between the government and the people but not much is been heard about the government from the agency.
“When we were growing up many years ago, we used to see Land Rover vehicle with speakers on top driving and passing important information to the citizens both in urban and rural areas.
“Such strategies are still relevant, but today, the NOA has become dormant in that regards,’’ Inalegwu said.
Mr Kuje Areng, a civil servant said that the agency in the previous administration was doing well stressing they go round the country having Town Hall Meetings and preaching against violence.
“I remember then they use to visit communities across the country preaching about the need for peaceful co-existence, religious and ethnic tolerance; they also preached against drug abuse and criminality.
“Today, we don’t hear about such visits and preachings to communities again and I think the agency has to wake up from its slumber and do the right thing.
“Even the “Do the Right Thing’’ campaign has lost the euphoria it came with during the lunch; it is now in limbo, the drive is no longer energetic,’’ Areng said.
Mrs Ann Abulukun, a social commentator noted that NOA’s mandate had for some time now not up to expectations for an agency that was shoulder with the responsibility of enlightening, orientating and re-orientating citizens.
Abulukun stressed that the cardinal points of this administration were addressing security challenges and fighting corruption.
“The activities of NOA suppose to be in line with the administration’s agenda, but unfortunately we don’t hear anything in that regards from the agency.
“People in the rural areas are not enlightened about all these; sometimes you hear the song `change begins with you and me’ during Network news on Radio Nigeria and that is all.
“NOA need to do better, their current effort in fulfilling their mandate is not encouraging: they need to wake up to their responsibilities.
“The agency have staff in all the Local Governments across the country; they have the staff strength to excel, but not much is being done; it is sad,’’ Abulukun submitted.
For Mr Abraham Attah, a public servant, NOA was supposed to enlighten the masses on the activities of the government in the area of national unity, peace, economic, political development and social justice.
Attah said it was regrettable that the country was going through tough challenges and the agency is snoring away, doing nothing to complement the efforts of the government.
“However, the government also needs to adequately fund the agency to carry out its mandate to the latter. I know that sometimes NOA may blame their inability to do better on paucity of funds.
“The Federal Government with support from the State and Local Governments should adequately fund the agency at all levels to achieve its objectives.
“Example, the `Change Begins with You and Me’ Campaign should be adequately funded; media coverage should be 100 per cent across the country; vehicles should also be acquired for mobile sensitisation.
“Nevertheless, NOA has to be aggressive and pro-active in carrying out its mandate,’’ Attah stressed.
Mr Suleiman Suja, a teacher said NOA was supposed to be vibrant in democratic dispensation than any other government organ.
Suja said it was ironic that during the military era, the staffers were in every nooks and cranny of the country, passing positive messages on governance and intentions of government.
“Even with the trending of social media, NOA’s relevance can’t be overlooked. Today we are in democratic dispensation but it appears to me that the agency is dormant.
“We don’t hear them on radio or television; they are not doing the needful to educate and enlighten the citizens on many issues about the country ranging from governance, economic and others.
“I think there is the urgent need for the agency to step-up its effort; they could seek for partnership or collaboration with other organisations to achieve their objectives.
Reacting, Dr Garba Abari, Director-General of NOA said the notion that the agency was not doing enough was not new.
“Before condemning NOA, take a look at the budget of the agency first, analysis the budget and then relate it to the size of the agency with it’s headquarter office in Abuja and 774 local government areas of the country.
“Have people actually taken a look at the budget, and at the actual amount released?.
“I have for long stop worrying about what people say; I am only focus on doing what I should do within the limits of realities and my circumstances.
“The budgets of the agency for the past few years are on the website of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning, for all to see and ascertain if the budget was adequate for us to carry out the mandate of the agency.
“We can only do the utmost with the amount at our disposal,’’ Abari said. (NAN)
CMY/AAB/EAL
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Edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Ekemini Ladejobi