By Ibrahim Muhammad
The Federal Government has approved the dissolution of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade, a volunteer arm under the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
This was disclosed in a press statement issued on Wednesday by the NOA Director of Communication and Media, Bala Musa.
According to him, the decision followed the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to establish the Citizens Values Brigade as a replacement for the WAI Brigade.
The Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, explained that the move aligns with the FEC resolution of September 2024 and the proposed amendment to the agency’s Establishment Act. He noted that the change reflects the democratic ideals of the current administration, as the WAI Brigade nomenclature is no longer suitable in a democratic setting.
Issa-Onilu revealed that new guidelines for the structure, enlistment, and operations of the Citizens Values Brigade will soon be released. He advised former WAI members to await the new framework, which will allow them to reapply as volunteers.
He further stated that the legislative process to amend the NOA Establishment Act No. 100 of 1993 (now Cap 64, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004) is ongoing to incorporate the objectives of the Nigeria Identity Project.
According to the DG, the Citizens Values Brigade will initially operate in primary and secondary schools, with an estimated 37,000 members to be drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Issa-Onilu added that the new brigade will play a leading role in promoting attitudinal and behavioural change at the grassroots level, in line with the NOA’s core mandate.
