REPS TASK NOA ON ENLIGHTENMENT

By Caleb Ayansina
ABUJA - CHAIRMAN, House Committee on Information and National Orientation, Omar Buba Jubril, has charged National Orientation Agency, NOA, to educate Nigerians on how to be vigilant in the wake of unrest created by Boko Haram in the country.

Jubril, who gave the charge when the committee visited the Director-General of the agency, Mr. Michael Omeri, on oversight function in Abuja, said people needed to know what to do in case of any suspicious movement around them.

The committee members, in a separate contribution, noted that the agency was diminishing in terms of efficiency, just as they challenged the new management to make use of their mega budget to earn the support of not only the lawmakers, but also Nigerians.

They said people could not feel the impact of the agency in the state and local levels, thereby preventing them from making meaningful inputs into government policy.

He said: 'The reflection is what we witnessed in the last subsidy protest in the country. NOA as it is known in those days, longer exist. It is rather diminishing.

'I hope your administration will bring back the vibrancy. If you do not do your work, you don't expect proper funding. But the little funds you have, make the best use of it.

'There must be a message. Find a way to drive it. The country has to be known with something. The impact of NOA is not felt at the state and local levels.'