By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has launched a public enlightenment campaign in Jigawa State, urging citizens, especially youths, to abandon shortcuts to wealth and embrace integrity, hard work, and ethical practices.
Speaking at the Federal Secretariat in Dutse, the NOA Director-General, Mr. Lanre Issa, represented by Mr. Williams Dogo, Director of Legal Services, emphasized the importance of addressing societal challenges such as the get-rich-quick mentality, security concerns, and misinformation surrounding tax reforms.
The campaign, part of a nationwide initiative, is aimed to combat the rising trend of fraudulent wealth acquisition.
It is also aimed at raising awareness on security issues and promote public cooperation with law enforcement.
It is also meant to educate citizens on the benefits of the new tax reform and its role in equitable development.
Issa highlighted the detrimental effects of the get-rich-quick culture, particularly among the youth, noting that such practices erode societal values and contribute to criminal activities like internet fraud.
He stressed that the government has criminalized such fraudulent practices and is implementing programs to empower young people through skill acquisition and other initiatives.
“The government is deeply committed to addressing economic hardship by providing opportunities for youth empowerment. However, we need citizens to reject dubious means of wealth acquisition and work with integrity,” Issa said.
On security, the NOA DG commended government efforts to enhance security through better funding, training, and equipment for agencies. However, he called on citizens to report suspicious activities and cooperate with security personnel to create a safer society.
Addressing concerns about the new tax reforms, Issa explained that they aim to ease the burden on hardworking Nigerians while ensuring fairness and increased funding for development projects.
He urged stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders, media, and civil society groups, to support the reforms by spreading accurate information and encouraging compliance.
In his remarks, the Jigawa State NOA Director, Alhaji Tijjani, expressed concern over the exploitation of the current economic hardship by some individuals to commit crimes. He reiterated the agency’s dedication to guiding citizens towards legitimate means of success and discouraging fraudulent behaviors.
“We are targeting youths and other stakeholders to educate them on the dangers of shortcuts to wealth and encourage them to embrace legal and ethical ways of achieving their goals,” Tijjani said.
The campaign underscores the government’s resolve to build a society rooted in integrity, fairness, and sustainable development, urging all citizens to play their part in realizing this vision.