The National Orientation Agency has dismissed allegations by the National Association of Nigerian Students that it exceeded its mandate by promoting the proposed National Learner Identification Number.
The NOA explained that its role in the Learner Identification Number initiative was strictly to inform Nigerians about government policies and programmes.
It stressed that it neither developed the policy nor had responsibility for implementing the proposed identification system.
NANS had opposed the introduction of the LIN, describing it as a duplication of the National Identification Number.
The students’ body, through its President, Akinteye Afeez, also accused the NOA of going beyond its statutory responsibilities, arguing that the agency was established to facilitate communication between the government and citizens.
NANS subsequently called on the Federal Government to halt the proposed LIN, maintaining that the NIN already serves as a unique identification system for Nigerians.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, the Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the agency’s participation in the matter was limited to public communication and engagement.
He explained that the NOA was mandated to communicate government policies across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, regardless of which institution formulated or implemented them.
Issa-Onilu said, “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.”
According to him, policy formulation, implementation and communication are separate responsibilities, with the appropriate authorities remaining in charge of the LIN initiative.
He said the NOA’s responsibility was to explain the policy to citizens and provide avenues through which they could express their opinions, concerns and reactions.
The Director-General linked the approach to the agency’s renewed public engagement strategy, including its “Pulse of the Nation” initiative, which gathers citizens’ views and relays them to the government.
Issa-Onilu acknowledged NANS as an important stakeholder, agreeing that students should participate in discussions on policies that affect them.
He, however, maintained that publicising or explaining a government policy did not mean that the NOA had formulated, imposed or implemented it.
The NOA boss urged NANS and other stakeholders to distinguish between the institution responsible for driving a policy and the agency responsible for communicating it to the public.
He said the agency remained willing to engage NANS and the wider student community on the proposed LIN, including concerns about its relationship with the existing NIN.
Issa-Onilu added that such engagement was part of the NOA’s mandate to serve as a link between the government and citizens and should not be interpreted as an attempt to extend its powers.
