By Media360Impact
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has rejected claims by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) that it is exceeding its statutory mandate by being involved 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 also questioned NOA’s involvement, alleging that the agency was championing an identification system outside its statutory responsibilities.
But the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the agency is neither the originator nor the implementing authority for the proposed LIN initiative.
According to him, NOA’s involvement is limited to its statutory responsibility of communicating government policies, programmes and activities to citizens and creating opportunities for meaningful engagement between government and the public.
NOA: Communication is different from policy implementation
Issa-Onilu explained that NOA’s communication mandate covers government policies and programmes across Ministries, Departments and Agencies and is not limited to policies initiated or implemented directly by the agency.
He said the agency works with government institutions to ensure Nigerians receive accurate, timely and understandable information about policies and programmes.
“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 Director-General stressed that there is a distinction between policy formulation, implementation and public communication.
He maintained that the institutions responsible for the LIN initiative remain in charge of its formulation and implementation, while NOA’s role is to communicate information about the policy to Nigerians.
He added that the agency also provides platforms through which citizens can express their views, concerns and reactions to government policies.
Agency opens door to stakeholders’ concerns
Issa-Onilu said two-way communication is central to NOA’s renewed approach to public engagement, including through its “Pulse of the Nation” reports, which capture citizens’ opinions and reactions and communicate them back to government.
He acknowledged NANS as an important stakeholder whose views should be considered on policies affecting students.
However, he urged the students’ body to direct its position on the LIN initiative to the appropriate government institution responsible for the policy.
The Director-General also said NOA remains open to engaging NANS, students and other stakeholders on the proposed learner identification system, including concerns about how LIN may relate to the existing NIN.
He maintained that communicating a government policy should not be interpreted as formulating, imposing or implementing that 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.
NOA defends mandate as LIN debate continues
The agency urged stakeholders to distinguish between the institution responsible for driving a government policy and the agency responsible for communicating such policies to the public.
Issa-Onilu reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to transparent, inclusive and two-way communication with Nigerians.
He said citizens’ concerns and perspectives remain important to effective public policy communication and democratic governance.
The clarification comes as questions continue to emerge around the proposed National Learner Identification Number and its relationship with the National Identification Number, particularly among students and other stakeholders in the education sector.
