The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has dismissed claims by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) that it is going beyond its official duties with its involvement in the National Learner Identification Number (LIN) initiative.
NANS released a statement signed by its President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez. They called the proposed LIN unnecessary and said it may duplicate the National Identification Number (NIN). The student group also questioned NOA’s role in the initiative, claiming the Agency is pushing for an identification system that is not part of its duties.
NOA's Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, clarified the Agency's stance. He said NOA is not the creator or the body in charge of the LIN initiative.
Issa-Onilu explained that NOA's role is limited to its duty of communicating government policies, programs, and activities to the people. He added that the Agency helps to connect the government with citizens.
According to him, NOA’s communication task covers all government policies and programs. It is not limited to things the Agency starts or runs on its own.
"As the main government agency for public orientation, NOA works with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to make sure that citizens get correct, timely, and clear information about what the government is doing," he said.
Issa-Onilu made it clear that there is a difference between creating policy, carrying it out, and communicating it. He pointed out that the bodies responsible for the LIN initiative are still in charge of making and carrying out the policy.
His job is to explain the policy to Nigerians in simple terms and provide ways for citizens to share their opinions, concerns, and feedback.
He mentioned that this back-and-forth communication is central to NOA's new way of engaging with the public, especially through its “Pulse of the Nation” reports. These reports gather the views and reactions of citizens and send them back to the government.
The Director-General acknowledged that NANS is an important group that should have a say on policies that affect them. He encouraged the student body to direct their opinions to the right government institutions regarding the LIN initiative.
Nevertheless, he stressed that explaining a government policy does not mean creating, enforcing, or carrying out the policy.
"NOA’s role is to help citizens understand what the government is doing, why it is doing it, and how they can get involved. This is very different from being the agency that creates or carries out the policy," he said.
Issa-Onilu urged NANS and others to see the difference between the duties of the body behind a government policy and those of the Agency that communicates such policies to the public.
He added that NOA is open to working together with NANS, students, and others on the proposed LIN. This includes discussing any questions about its connection with the NIN.
He said this kind of engagement is a key part of NOA’s job as a link between the government and citizens. It should not be seen as the Agency stepping out of its official duties.
The Director-General reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to open, inclusive, and two-way communication with Nigerians. He highlighted that citizens' concerns and views are important for effective public policy communication and democracy.
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