Rep Fatoba’s C’ttee Pledges Support For NOA To Carry Out It’s Function …commends several nation building initiatives of the agency. By Saheed Badmus

Rep Fatoba’s C’ttee Pledges Support For NOA To Carry Out It’s Function

…commends several nation building initiatives of the agency

Nigerian House of Representative Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values has pledged legislative support to the National Orientation Agency, in order to carry out its statutory mandate across the country.

The chairman of the committee, Hon. Steve Fatoba, stated this during an oversight visit to the agency on Thursday, in Abuja, to evaluate the 2024 fiscal performance, and prepare for the 2025 budget.

The Ekiti State federal legislator said the House, through the committee, would give necessary substantive support to the agency, for it to achieve its mandate, especially now that the government is serious about promoting attitudinal change.

He reiterated the commitment of the House of Representatives to supporting the agency’s activities and programmes, to enhance public understanding and awareness of government activities especially at the grassroots

Hon. Fatoba lauded the several initiatives of the agency since the assumption of duty of the director general, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, saying the agency has made improvements in the last one year.

The committee chairman had earlier said in his opening remark: “it is with great pleasure I address this gathering today on fulfilment of committee’s mandate in order 20 rule 67 of the standing order of the house of representatives 1132 which authorizes us to oversight the ministry of information and national orientation ethics and value and all the agency under the ministry.

“You are aware that since the beginning of this 10th Assembly. This will be the first oversight visit of this committee on the agency, and in view of the fact that the 2025 budget estimate will soon be presented to the National Assembly,
and in order for the committee to do a thorough job on the budget of the agency, there is need to make this visit.

“Again as earlier stated that this will be the first visit of this Assembly to the agency. It will also be used as a familiarization visit in order to get acquitted to your activities, your modus operandis, your relationship with the ministry and the other agencies, your achievements, challenges, and the possible way forward.

“Permit me to remind you that the principal duty of this committee is to ensure the smooth operation of the agencies and which is through budgeting and oversight. Hence, at this meeting, the performance of your 2024 budget will be looked into, which will influence committee decision at commenting what is appropriate for the year 2025 and 2023 performance.”

In his welcome address, director general, National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, informed the committee members that the task of communicating government programmes and policies remains enormous, requiring the involvement of all stakeholders to succeed.

He said: “the Tinubu government has shown commitment in driving attitudinal change and has continually supported the agency through approval of its proposals geared towards nation building.”

The DG sought the support of federal lawmakers in the area of increased budgetary allocation for the agency, in order to address the diminishing staff strength among other several challenges facing it.

Some members of the committee used the occasion to ask questions about the dwindling staff strength, accommodation for state and local government offices and the need to increase the visibility of the agency among Nigerians.

The members were later taken round the agency’s new communication facilities including newsroom, television studio, radio and editing suites.
“These facilities have enhanced the agency’s capacity to produce its own jingles, and other messages”, he said.