By Isaiah Eka
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has announced the dissolution of its volunteer arm, the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade, following the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to constitute the Citizens Values Brigade as its replacement.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Bala Musa, Director, Communication and Media and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday.
The statement said the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, explained that the decision aligns with the Federal Executive Council (FEC) resolution of Sept. 2024 and the proposed amendment to the Agency’s Establishment Act.
He said the change reflects the democratic ideals of the present administration and recognises that the WAI Brigade nomenclature is no longer appropriate under a democratic dispensation.
“A democratic government should not be seen as waging war against its citizens over indiscipline.
While such measures might have been acceptable during military rule, the use of force or coercion to enforce discipline is inconsistent with the principles of democracy,” Issa-Onilu said.
He disclosed that a new guideline for the structure, enlistment, and operation of the new volunteer arm will soon be issued.
The D-G urged members of the former WAI to wait for the new guidelines to enable them to reapply as volunteers of the citizen values brigade.
He noted that the legislative process to amend the NOA Establishment Act No. 100 of 1993 (now Cap 64, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004) is already underway to reflect the objectives of the Nigeria Identity Project.
Issa-Onilu added that the Citizen Values Brigade is one of several institutional reforms being undertaken by the Agency to strengthen its operations and advance the core ideals articulated in the National Values Charter under the Nigerian Identity Project.
“When constituted, the brigade will be active in primary and secondary schools, starting with 37, 000 members drawn from all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
*Citizen Values Brigade will lead the persuasive role in attitudinal and behaviour change in the grassroots, one of the main mandates of the agency as contained in the establishment law,” he said.
