House of Representatives Moves to Boost Funding for National Orientation Agency
In a bid to enhance its service delivery, the House of Representatives has commenced preliminary moves to increase the funding of the National Orientation Agency (NOA). The decision was taken after the adoption of a motion moved by Mr Adewale Hameed, representing Agege Federal Constituency, Lagos State.
Hameed emphasized the crucial role played by NOA in re-orienting citizens on national values and promoting the spirit of unity and patriotism. However, he lamented the inadequate funding of the agency, noting that more needs to be done to empower it to discharge its services effectively to Nigerians.
According to Hameed, the current budgetary allocation of N8,819,470,967 is grossly inadequate to meet the extensive responsibilities of the agency and its offices across the nation. He argued that the existing funding does not match the agency’s mandate, especially in addressing the prevailing trend of youth restiveness and social vices in the country.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal government to review the budgetary allocation of NOA in line with current realities in subsequent budget estimates to enable successful re-orientation of citizens. Additionally, they urged the agency to increase its visibility across all media platforms and put out more engaging content to project Federal Government policies to the people.
The House also called on NOA to partner with stakeholders including Ministries, Departments and Agencies, traditional institutions, religious bodies, community leaders, and the media, among others. The House Committees on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values were mandated to conduct a thorough oversight and recommend appropriate measures that will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the agency for improved service delivery.
The committees have four weeks to report back to the House for further legislative action. With this development, Nigerians can expect improved services from NOA, which will play a crucial role in promoting national values and re-orienting citizens to curb vices and promote societal growth.
