The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, says the agency has been repositioned to fullfil its mandate under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Issa- Onilu who stated this Tuesday in Abuja during a round table with the media, said the agency is deploying technology to enable its fulfill its mandate.
“There is no government agency that is deploying technology like the National Orientation Agency. We are deploying Artificial Intelligence to publicise government policies and programmes.
“Today I can sit in my office and get any information on any government policies and programmes. Our application is very interactive and it gives any information you want about government policies and programmes in an interactive manne,” he said.
The Director General also said the agency is using cartoon animation to inculcate values into the younger generation.
He said, “We have adopted strategies that is geared towards catching them young.
“One factors responsible for moral decadence and lack of values in our today is our young ones spend average of 6 hours a day watching cartoons. The cartoons they are watching are foreign cartoons.
“Many parents in Nigeria today are raising foreigners in their homes. That is why a boy will wake one day and say I am now a cat and there is nothing anybody can do about it. Unfortunately some of the ideologies that promote same sex marriage have stylishly introduced into cartoons.
“In Nigeria we found out that we have children who know about America than they know about Nigeria.”
To correct this , he said the agency has introduced cartoon characters based on our values.
Speaking further, he said the National Values Charter developed by the agency aims to instil a renewed sense of civic duty and national pride among Nigerians.
He described the Charter as one of the agency’s flagship initiatives, adding that it sets out seven core promises and seven responsibilities for both citizens and the government.
According to him, the charter balances the rights of citizens with their obligations to the state.
In Ibadan at the flag- off of the nationwide sensitisation campaign on the World Hiv Day, Security Awareness, Discouraging Get Rich Quick Syndrome, World Human Rights Day and the Tax Reform Bills held at the NOA headquarters in Oyo state, the DG said every Nigerians will benefit from the planned Tax Reform Bills by the federal government.
Represented by the NOA director, Health and Social Care, Dr Olufemi Ayoola, Mallam Issa-Onilu pointed out that “when passed, the bill will lead to the repeal of 11 laws that contain provisions on imposition and collection of taxes.”
The NOA DG said: “This bill is just like a compendium of taxes charged in Nigeria. The Nigeria Tax Bill basically amalgamated all the existing laws in which provisions for taxation was made.
“Tax Reforms Taxation is essential for funding national development, but we recognise that it has been a source of concern for many Nigerians due to issues like multiple taxation and its impact on low-income earners. To address these challenges, the government is implementing reforms to make the system fairer and less burdensome for citizens.
“I want to briefly breakdown the Tax Reform Bills in a very concise and easily understood manner. The tax reform bills are four different bills that seeks to bring everything about taxation and administration of tax in Nigeria under four different pieces of legislation.
“The bills are as follows:The Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
“For instance: The Nigeria Tax Bill is where all major taxes imposed on individuals and companies are clearly stated as well as the rates.”
He noted further, “Here’s how these reforms will benefit everyone: No more double taxes, government is working to stop different levels of authority from taxing people for the same thing.
It will support for low-income earners: Those earning very little will pay little or no taxes, helping them manage their finances better.
They are simpler and transparent processes: New digital systems are being introduced to make tax payments easier, faster, and more accountable.
There is visible impact of taxes: Tax revenue will be used to improve essential public services like schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, ensuring citizens see the benefits of their contributions.