The National Orientation Agency has rejected the allegation by the National Association of Nigerian Students that it is overreaching its mandate by championing the proposed National Learner Identification Number.
The Agency said its involvement in the LIN initiative was limited to communicating government policies and programmes to Nigerians, stressing that it was neither the originator nor the implementing agency of the proposed identification system.
The PUNCH reports that NANS was reacting to a statement by the National Association of Nigerian Students, which rejected the LIN, describing it as an unnecessary duplication of the National Identification Number.
The students’ body, through its President, Akinteye Afeez, had accused the NOA of exceeding its responsibilities, arguing that the agency’s mandate was to promote communication between the government and citizens rather than introduce a new identification system.
The students’ body called on the Federal Government to suspend the introduction and implementation of the LIN, insisting that the NIN already provided a unique means of identification for Nigerians.
However, the Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement on Thursday, said the agency was neither the originator nor the implementing body for the LIN initiative.
Issa-Onilu explained that the agency’s involvement was limited to communicating government policies, programmes and activities to Nigerians, as well as facilitating engagement between the government and citizens.
He said the NOA’s mandate covered government policies and programmes generally and was not restricted to initiatives formulated or implemented by the agency.
“As the primary government agency for public orientation, NOA works across Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that citizens receive accurate and understandable information about government policies, programmes and activities,” he said.
The DG said there was a clear distinction between policy formulation, implementation and communication, stressing that the relevant authorities remained responsible for the LIN initiative.
According to him, the NOA’s role is to explain the policy to Nigerians while providing platforms for citizens to express their views, concerns and reactions.
He said the approach was consistent with the agency’s renewed public engagement strategy, particularly its “Pulse of the Nation” initiative, which collates citizens’ opinions and communicates them to the government.
Issa-Onilu said the agency recognised NANS as a key stakeholder and agreed that students should have a voice in policies affecting them.
He, however, stressed that communicating a government policy did not amount to formulating, imposing or implementing it.
“Issa-Onilu, therefore, urged NANS and other stakeholders to properly distinguish between the responsibilities of the institution driving a government policy and that of the Agency mandated to communicate such policies to the public,” the statement added.
The NOA boss said the agency remained open to discussions with NANS and students on the LIN and its relationship with the NIN.
He added that such engagement was part of the NOA’s responsibility as a bridge between the government and citizens and did not constitute an overreach of its mandate.
