NOA clarifies role in proposed Learner Identification Number scheme, rejects NANS claim of overreach
pannigeriannews
2 min read
By Isaiah Adewole
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has rejected claims by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) that it is exceeding its statutory mandate through its involvement in the proposed National Learner Identification Number (LIN) initiative.
NANS, in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, had rejected the proposed LIN, describing it as unnecessary and potentially duplicative of the National Identification Number (NIN).
The students’ body had also questioned the involvement of the NOA in the initiative, alleging that the Agency was championing an identification system outside its statutory mandate.
However, the Director-General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the Agency was neither the originator nor the implementing authority for the proposed LIN.
Issa-Onilu explained that NOA’s involvement was limited to its statutory responsibility of communicating government policies, programmes and activities to citizens and facilitating meaningful engagement between government and the people.
“As the primary government agency responsible for public orientation, NOA works across Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that citizens receive accurate, timely and understandable information about government policies, programmes and activities,” he said.
The NOA boss stressed that there was a distinction between policy formulation, implementation and communication, noting that the authorities responsible for the LIN initiative remained in charge of its formulation and implementation.
According to him, NOA’s responsibility is to explain government policies to Nigerians in clear and accessible terms while providing platforms for citizens to express their views, concerns and reactions.
He said this two-way communication was central to the Agency’s renewed approach to public engagement, particularly through its “Pulse of the Nation” reports, which capture citizens’ opinions and reactions and communicate them back to government.
Issa-Onilu acknowledged NANS as an important stakeholder whose views should be considered on policies affecting students, but urged the association to channel its concerns about the LIN initiative to the appropriate government institution.
He maintained that communicating a government policy did not amount to formulating, imposing or implementing the policy.
“NOA’s role is to ensure that citizens understand what government is doing, why it is doing it and how they can engage with it. This is fundamentally different from being the institution that formulates or implements the policy,” he said.
On NANS’ concerns about the relationship between the proposed LIN and the existing NIN, Issa-Onilu said the Agency remained open to constructive engagement with NANS, students and other stakeholders.
He said questions surrounding the relationship between both identification systems could be addressed through engagement with the relevant authorities.
The Director-General urged stakeholders to distinguish between the institution driving a government policy and the Agency mandated to communicate such policies to the public.
He reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to transparent, inclusive and two-way communication with Nigerians, saying citizens’ concerns and perspectives remained essential to effective public policy communication and democratic governance.
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