NOA Clarifies Role In Learner Identification Number Initiative

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has rejected allegations by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) that it is exceeding its statutory mandate through its involvement 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).

However, clarifying the agency’s position, its director-general, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the agency is neither the originator nor the implementing authority for the proposed LIN initiative.

Issa-Onilu explained that NOA’s involvement is strictly within its statutory responsibility of communicating government policies, programmes and activities to citizens, while facilitating meaningful engagement between the government and the people.

According to him, NOA’s communication mandate covers policies and programmes across government and is not limited to initiatives formulated or implemented by the Agency.

“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 Director-General stressed the distinction between policy formulation, implementation and communication, noting that the relevant authorities responsible for the LIN initiative remain in charge of its formulation and implementation.

He said NOA’s responsibility is to explain the policy to Nigerians in clear and accessible terms and provide platforms through which citizens can express their views, concerns and reactions.

Issa-Onilu noted that such two-way communication is central to the Agency’s renewed approach to public engagement, particularly through its “Pulse of the Nation” reports, which capture citizens’ opinions and reactions and feed them back into government.

He acknowledged NANS as an important stakeholder whose voice should be heard on policies affecting students, but urged the students’ body to direct its views on the LIN initiative to the appropriate government institution.

The NOA boss emphasised that communicating a government policy does not amount to formulating, imposing or implementing it.

“NOA’s role is to ensure that citizens understand what the 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.

Issa-Onilu therefore urged NANS and other stakeholders to distinguish between the responsibilities of the institution driving a government policy and those of the Agency mandated to communicate such policies to the public.

He further said NOA remains open to constructive engagement with NANS, students and other stakeholders on the proposed LIN, including concerns about its relationship with the NIN.

According to him, such engagement is a core part of NOA’s mandate as a bridge between government and citizens and should not be misconstrued as an overreach of the Agency’s statutory responsibilities.

The Director-General reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to transparent, inclusive and two-way communication with Nigerians, stressing that citizens’ concerns and perspectives remain essential to effective public policy communication and democratic governance.