House of Representatives Fulfil Promise on Amendment of NOA Act

The Gbajabiamila-led House of Representatives (HoR) in its revised legislative agenda pledged to amend the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Act with the aim of ensuring the more effective building of team spirit above ethnic and religious groups.

The pledge is also one of the intermediate interventions of the HoR on governance having identified ‘lack of equity, inclusiveness and responsiveness’ as one of the key issues to be addressed as lawmakers.

Three months after the inauguration of the 9th Assembly, Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno representing Borno State presented the National Orientation Agency Act (Amendment) Bill 2019 before the HoR. The bill which is also HB 12 scaled the first and second reading on 2nd August and 16th August 2019 respectively. Consequently, the bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole at the Green Chamber before passing its third reading in October 2019.

Promise: Amendment of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Act to include campaigns for national consciousness and patriotism and re-work the National Orientation Bill to ensure the more effective building of team spirit above ethnic and religious groups.

The bill which was subsequently transmitted to the Senate scaled the first reading on 30January, 2020 before it was passed as a law in February 2022.

When the Assembly was inaugurated, the existing Act was the NOA Act of 2004 which according to the lawmakers need to be amended so as to address current realities in the country. There were attempts by the Assembly to also amend the bill which was stalled in 2018. The amendment bill presented by Hon. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma from Edo in the 8th Assembly had proposed to include a representative of the traditional institution and the youth council in the membership of the board of the Agency.

However, the passage of the bill titled ‘AN ACT TO AMEND THE NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY ACT, CAP, N100, LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA, 2004 TO PROVIDE FOR AN OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR HARMONY CORPS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE INTER-ETHNIC INTEGRATION, MEDIATION, PEACE-BUILDING, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, PATROTISM, FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AND FOR RELATED MATTERS,” is expected to strengthen the National Orientation Agency in its activities across the country.

We rate this promise Kept.

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