The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has rejected allegations by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) that it is overstepping its statutory mandate through its involvement in the proposed National Learner Identification Number (LIN) initiative.
NANS had kicked against the proposed LIN, describing it as unnecessary and potentially duplicative of the National Identification Number (NIN), while also questioning NOA’s role in the initiative.
However, NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the agency was neither responsible for originating nor implementing the proposed learner identification system.
Issa-Onilu explained that NOA’s involvement was limited to its statutory responsibility of communicating government policies, programmes and activities to citizens, as well as facilitating engagement between government and the people.
According to him, the agency’s mandate covers government policies and programmes generally and is not restricted to initiatives formulated or implemented directly by NOA.
The Director-General urged NANS and other stakeholders to distinguish between agencies responsible for formulating and implementing government policies and those saddled with the responsibility of communicating such policies to the public.
He maintained that NOA remained willing to engage NANS and other stakeholders constructively on the proposed LIN, including concerns over its relationship with the existing NIN system.
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