By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives has called for immediate increase in the funding of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, for effective and efficient service delivery throughout the country.
To this end, the House mandated its Committees on Information, National Orientation and Ethics to immediately conduct a thorough oversight and make recommendations that will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of NOA’s services.
This followed a resolution while adopting a motion moved during plenary yesterday by Adewale Hammed on the “Need to review the budgetary allocation of the National Orientation Agency, inorder to ensure improved citizens orientation across the country.”
Hammed currently represents Agege Federal Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives.
In his lead debate,the lawmaker explained that NOA has an important role in the re-orientation of citizens on national values, as well as the promotion of one spirit of unity and peace.
Earlier in his debate, the lawmaker lamented the inadequate funding, urging the Budget Office and indeed government to empower the establishment to enable it carry out its mandate optimally.
According to him, “The House is aware that the budgetary allocation for the agency in the Appropriation Act, 2024 is N8,819,470,967.
“The House is concerned that the existing funding provided for the agency is grossly inadequate to meet its extensive responsibilities and its offices across the nation.
“We are concerned that given the prevailing trend of youth restiveness and social vices in the nation, there is definitely an urgent need to implement measures for effective re-orientation of citizens to curb vices, re-orient them and encourage growth within our society.”
According to him, the state of restiveness across the country coupled with many social vices “necessitated urgent measures for effective re-orientation to curb these vices and promote societal growth.”
The lawmakers equally called on NOA to “Increase visibility across all media platforms and put out more engaging content that will project the federal government’s policies to the people and also expose citizens to government’s initiatives that can be beneficial to them.”
The House also urged the agency to partner stakeholders including Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, traditional institutions, religious bodies, community leaders and the media, among others.
Lawmakers at the Green Chambers finally gave the committee four weeks to report back for further legislative action.
