A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Olajide Olatubosun (APC-Oyo) has observed that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has not performed to expectations in the last 20 years to actualise its statutory mandate.
Olatubosun said this while presenting a motion on the need to call on the NOA to make reality of its mandate to orientate Nigerians at the plenary session on Thursday in Abuja.
He recalled that the Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), as the forerunner of NOA, effectively inspired Nigerians to attain appreciable level of awareness on national issues.
The lawmaker said this was on a consistent basis and included training and awareness campaigns.
Olatubosun attributed most of the current national controversies adversely affecting democratic growth and national development to poor orientation of Nigerians.
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“Most of the current national controversies that are adversely affecting our democratic growth and national development stem from ethno-religious sentiments.
“These are fuelled by pathetic deficit of public discuss and policy contestations, which have now assumed disturbing dimension on regular basis.
“NOA is supposed to be a veritable platform for collective engagement and dialogue that will give meaning to the political objectives and not government propaganda machinery.
Furthermore, the House mandated the Committee on Information, National Orientation and Ethnic and Values, to conduct a hearing on the challenges facing the agency.
This according to the House is with a view to charting a way forward to enable the agency fulfill its statutory mandate. (NAN)
