The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has dismissed the allegation by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) that it is exceeding its statutory mandate by participating in the proposed National Learner Identification Number (LIN) initiative.
NANS, in a statement signed by its President, Akinteye Afeez, had rejected the proposed LIN, arguing that it could duplicate the National Identification Number (NIN).
The students’ body also questioned NOA’s involvement, alleging that the agency is promoting an identification system outside its mandate.
However, the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the agency neither originated nor has the responsibility for implementing the LIN initiative.
Issa-Onilu in a statement by Paul Odenyi, deputy director, communication and media of the agency, explained that NOA’s role is limited to its statutory responsibility of communicating government’s policies, programmes and activities to citizens, as well as creating platforms for meaningful engagement between government and the people.
He said the agency’s communication mandate cuts across government and is not limited to policies or programmes formulated or implemented by NOA.
According to him, NOA works with Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that citizens receive accurate, timely and accessible information about government’s policies and programmes.
Issa-Onilu stressed the difference between policy formulation, implementation and communication, noting that the relevant authorities remain responsible for the formulation and implementation of the LIN initiative.
He said NOA’s responsibility is to explain the policy to Nigerians, provide accurate information and create avenues for citizens to express their views, concerns and reactions.
The director-general said such two-way communication is central to the agency’s renewed public engagement strategy, including its pulse of the nation reports, which capture citizens’ opinions and feed them back to government.
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While acknowledging NANS as an important stakeholder whose views should be heard on policies affecting students, Issa-Onilu urged the association to direct its concerns about the LIN initiative to the appropriate government institution.
He emphasised that communicating a government policy does not amount to formulating, imposing or implementing it.
Issa-Onilu therefore urged NANS and other stakeholders to distinguish between the institution responsible for driving a government policy and NOA, which is mandated to communicate such policies to the public.
He added that NOA remains open to constructive engagement with NANS, students and other stakeholders, particularly on concerns about the proposed LIN and its relationship with the NIN.
The NOA director-general reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to transparent, inclusive and two-way communication, stressing that citizens’ views and concerns are vital to effective public policy communication and democratic governance.
