The National Orientation Agency of Nigeria is the organization in charge of disseminating government policy, monitoring public opinion, and encouraging patriotism, unity in the country, and the advancement of Nigerian society. Its particular goals were outlined in Decree 100 of 1993, as stated in the organization’s website motto, “Do the right thing: transform Nigeria.”
The Agency’s main job is to encourage and reorient Nigerians to participate freely and actively in conversations and decisions that influence their overall and collective welfare. Health, collaboration with non-governmental groups, and election violence prevention are just a few of the subjects that the National Orientation Agency has focused on.
On January 16, 2012, Dr Mike Omeri was named the agency’s director general. The Director General is Dr Garba Abari, and in his New Year’s message for 2014, Director General Omeri “urged Nigerians to increase their faith in the country this year” and “expressed appreciation to the people for standing by the government and the nation throughout the year 2014, especially in the war against insurgency.”
Some Functions of the National Orientation Agency
- Enlightenment of the general public on Government policies, programmes and activities;
- Mobilization of favourable public opinion and support for Government policies, programmes and activities;
- Collection, collation, analysis and provision of feedback from the public to the Government on its policies, programmes and activities;
- Establish social institutions and framework for deliberate exposure of Nigerians to democratic norms and values for a virile, peaceful, united, progressive and disciplined society;
- Arouse the consciousness of all categories of Nigerians to their rights and privileges, responsibilities and obligations as citizens of Nigeria;
- Propagate and promote the spirit of dignity of labour, honesty and commitment to qualitative production, promotion and consumption of home-produced commodities and services;
- Re-orientate the populace about power, its use and the proper role of Government in serving the collective interest of Nigerians;
- Propagate the need to eschew all vices in public life including corruption, dishonesty, electoral and census malpractice, ethnic parochial and religious bigotry;
- Mobilize Nigerians for positive patriotic participation in and identification with national affairs and issues; and sensitize, induct and equip all Nigerians to fight against all forms of internal and external domination of resources by a few individuals or groups.