NOA boss wants access to govt policies via community broadcasting

Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri, has called on the federal government to increase access to government policies and programmes through the licensing of community broadcasting stations in the country.

Omeri, who made the call at the second annual lecture of the Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC) in Bauchi at the weekend, said “narrow casting” known as community broadcasting will complement the Freedom of Information Act and widen citizens’ knowledge of the effort of government to improve the lives of the people.”

He said the government’s transformation agenda “is a process for changing the fortunes of the country with the active involvement of the people,” adding that greater involvement of the citizens in the process of governance at the community level and positive disposition towards government and the nation would propel national development.
On the centenary celebration, Omeri urged politicians and other leaders to use the opportunity to reflect on the story of the next 100 years.

He said: “When the story of the next 100 years is told, what will they say about us as individuals and about our generation. This nation remembers Dr. Azikiwe, Chief Awolowo, The Sarduana, Aminu kano and former Prime minister, Tafewa belewa as those who got us independence. The story of the next hundred years will be our own stories.”

Guest Speaker, Yusuf Maitama Sule, a minister in the First Republic, justified the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates, saying that much of the achievements of the country resulted from its diversity.