By Gambo Jagindi
May 14, 2020
Don’t sideline NOA on coronavirus enlightenment programme- AUPCTRE urged FG
The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) has urged the Federal government to stop sidelining the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on coronavirus enlightenment.
Comrade Musa Ukpo AUPCTRE General Secretary, have the advice in a letter signed by him and addressed to Minister of Information in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Ukpo, the fundamental function of NOA is completely sidelined in performing its functions of public enlightenment to slow the spread of coronavirus pandemic which is ravaging the country.
He said that the act establishing NOA in 1993, mandated the organisation to enlighten the general public on Federal government policies, programmes and activities
He added that in previous activities and programmes of government, NOA had always been in the forefront of campaigning, mobilization and given public enlightenment on issues of importance but regretted the trend in terms of Coronavrus issue was different
The General Secretary said Nigeria had over 4,000 cases of people affected by the COVID-19 virus but noted that despite the alarming figure,there were still many Nigerians who still believe that the virus was a scam.
According to him, NOA is in a better position to re-orient this class of cynics about the reality of the pandemic disease that affected over 200 nations and 34 states of the federation, including the FCT with frightening statistics depicting over 4,000 and 150 deaths.
He expressed concern that such erroneous belief amounted to lackadaisical behavior capable of encouraging the spread of the virus.
He emphasize that NOA, having offices in all the 774 local government areas in Nigeria had all the expertise and technical Knowledge to drive the COVID-19 sensitization and therefore in a position to enlighten Nigerians on the COVID-19 pandemic
AUPCTRE therefore called on the Federal government to fully involve the NOA in public enlightenment unit by providing it funds and all necessary working tools to function optimally in curtailing the spread of coronavirus in the country.