Ex-Director Laments NOA’s Financial Plight

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Rivers State, says
it contributed immensely to the success of the 2011 general and local
government elections in the state.

The former State Director of NOA, Rivers State, Chief Andy
Nweye, who stated this on Tuesday during the official handing over to his
successor, Mr Oliver Wologbum, said the agency was able to mobilise, educate,
enlighten and sensitise the people.

Chief Nweye noted that the agency, despite its financial
crisis, was able to tour the 23 local government areas and major communities to
mobilise people for the voters registration and subsequently for the general
and local government elections in April and May 2011 respectively.

The former Director commended the State Government,
particularly the Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi for sponsoring most of the
agency’s programmes in the state and urged him to continue in that direction.

Nweye further appealed to the state government not to see
the state chapter of the NOA as a federal government agency but that of the
state, noting that the agency lacked adequate fund to carry out its statutory
functions.

He also urged the staff of NOA in the state to continue to
sustain the agency’s confidence and integrity despite its financial
predicament.

According to him, “I know that I am leaving a legacy of well
trained and behaved officers who can die for the Agency”.

He, however, expressed regret that the Agency could not
carry out much programmes due to lack of fund, adding that some local
government council could not assist the Agency in carrying out programmes. Most
exceptional, he said was Obio/Akpor which through its chairman, Hon Timothy
Nsirim, sponsored some of the Agency’s programmes in the area.