Speaker Adamawa State House of Assembly,Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas, has expressed the willingness of the 7th Assembly to enter into partnership with the National Orientation Agency(NOA) in the state for the enforcement of rules on national symbols.
Rt. Hon. Iya Abbas, stated this while receiving the State Director NOA, Alh Ahmed Sudi Abba, who led other principal officers of the agency on a courtesy visit on the Speaker and other Honourable Members of the House yesterday.
He told the delegation that the hallowed chamber is willing to close ranks with the agency for the enforcement of rules on national symbols such as national anthem, national pledge, hoisting of Nigerian flag, national passport, national identity card, code of arm, badges, respect for currency among others.
The Speaker said it appears many Nigerians do not even know the importance of the symbols considering how they handle some of them, lamenting that one will notice outright violation of the rules in some public offices taking into cognisance how citizens handle some of the symbols such as hoisting of Nigerian flag, reciting of national anthem or national pledge among others.
According to him, NOA has to work with both the State and National Assemblies towards ensuring respect for the symbols, saying it is only in Nigeria that one will notice outright disrespect and disregard for such things.
He however told the delegation that the House of Assembly needs agency like NOA to help in educating their constituents on the duties and responsibilities of a lawmaker, explaining that many of their electorates feel that a good legislator must embark on the execution of capital projects.
Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas, contended that even if a legislator sponsored 100 bills, people will not feel that he has done anything good, not to talk of respecting him or her, saying that is the reason why some of the lawmakers attach themselves with the executive arm.
Speaking earlier, the State Director of NOA, Alh. Ahmed Sudi Abba, pointed out that the agency was established primarily to enlighten citizens on the policies and programmes of the government as well as ensure that the citizens demonstrate core values: hardworking, patrioticism, honesty, obedience, loyalty and on how to render assistance and make the society orderly.
Alh Sudi Abba, asserted that the ordinance was enshrined in section 5 of the 1999, Constitution as amended, saying it is aimed at making sure that the citizens have respect for the symbols, and that the country remain one indivisible and democratic nation.
The Director told the Speaker that the agency has series of programmes that will see them going round the 21 LGAs, sensitising the citizens on the functions of a legislator, stating that the function of the legislator is not to give out money for weddings and naming ceremonies etc.
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