“A nation where thieves of public wealth are celebrated does not just need orientation, it requires deep reorientation.”
In every developed society, national orientation plays a vital role in shaping public consciousness, promoting shared values, and reinforcing civic responsibility. It is the bridge between the people and the state, fostering patriotism, moral discipline, and social cohesion.
But in Nigeria, the very agency entrusted with this sacred role, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) finds itself in an embarrassing state of irrelevance. At a time when the nation faces profound moral decay and social dysfunction, the NOA appears mute, stagnant, and absent from public discourse.
A Nation in Moral Crisis
Nigeria is deeply enmeshed in moral decadence, institutionalized corruption, and the erosion of its core values. When less than 5% of the population controls over 95% of the national wealth often with impunity and is lauded for donating a fraction back to society, something has gone fundamentally wrong.
Rather than confront these issues, society now rewards corruption with chieftaincy titles, religious honors, and social prestige. Meanwhile, those who remain honest in public office are mocked, sidelined, and their families even shamed.
“Today, honesty is seen as a weakness, and corruption as a viable path to success.”
The moral compass is shattered. Civil servants with modest incomes suddenly own mansions and luxury vehicles, yet no eyebrows are raised. Those who disobey the law, whether by traffic violations or evading taxes are hailed as smart, while law-abiding citizens are harassed and ridiculed.
Where is the NOA?
This is where the NOA should rise as the nation’s moral compass, helping reshape public values, building civic understanding, and promoting a new ethical order.
Instead, the agency has been reduced to a bureaucratic side-show, engaging in token programs and distributing glossy publications like Explainer Magazine, while the society it was meant to guide descends further into chaos.
The Director-General of NOA and his leadership team must embrace their constitutional mandate with boldness and clarity. The agency must evolve from being a mouthpiece of government into a transformative force that inspires, educates, and mobilizes.
The Role of NOA in National Reforms
In fairness, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown signs of a reformist agenda. From deregulating key sectors to signing impactful tax reform laws, these are steps in the right direction.
But for these efforts to gain public support and resist the sabotage of vested interests, the NOA must step in. Nigerians must be educated in clear, relatable language on how these reforms affect their lives, and why sustained national development requires shared sacrifice and accountability.
“The NOA must stop being reactive and become strategic, leading a moral reawakening, not just echoing policy and program.”
Additionally, NOA must redirect its focus from Abuja alone. The bulk of mismanagement and abuse occurs at state and local government levels, where public funds vanish with little scrutiny. The Nigerian people must be made to understand that accountability is a bottom-up demand, not just a top-down campaign.
The Urgent Need for Institutional Overhaul
The current state of the NOA is comatose and out of touch with the demands of the moment. What is needed now is a full institutional overhaul, one that retools the agency into a dynamic, responsive, and people-oriented engine of national conscience.
It must become the voice of reason in chaotic times; the platform where truth is told without fear or favor; the defender of national values and integrity.
The time to act is now.
