The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has dissolved the War Against Indiscipline, WAI Brigade, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new approach to civic engagement.
The decision follows approval from the Federal Executive Council, FEC, to establish the Citizen Values Brigade as a modern replacement.
According to the Director-General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the move aligns with the FEC resolution of September 2024 and ongoing efforts to amend the Agency’s Establishment Act.
Mallam Issa-Onilu, stated that a new guideline for the structure, enlistment, and operation of the new volunteer arm will soon be issued by the NOA DG.
He further encouraged members of the former WAI to wait for the new guidelines to enable them to reapply as volunteers of the citizen values brigade.
He noted that the change is in line with the principles of democracy and the vision of the present administration.
“A democratic government should not be seen as waging war against its citizens over indiscipline,”
Issa-Onilu said. “While such measures might have been acceptable during military rule, the use of force or coercion to enforce discipline is inconsistent with the principles of democracy.”
Citizen values brigade: A new path for civic responsibility
The Citizen Values Brigade, according to the NOA DG, will serve as the agency’s new volunteer arm. It will emphasise persuasive engagement, value-driven orientation, and behaviour change across Nigeria’s communities.
Issa-Onilu revealed that a new guideline covering the structure, enlistment, and operation of the brigade will soon be released.
He encouraged members of the dissolved WAI Brigade to await the publication of the new operational framework so they can reapply as volunteers under the Citizen Values Brigade.
This approach, he said, ensures continuity while introducing a reformed philosophy consistent with democratic values.
The DG 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 already underway. The amendment will reflect the objectives of the Nigeria Identity Project, which seeks to promote civic integrity, social responsibility, and collective identity among citizens.
Issa-Onilu also noted that the Citizen Values Brigade is part of a broader effort to strengthen the agency’s operations and promote the ideals set out in the National Values Charter, a key component of the Nigerian Identity Project.
When fully operational, the Citizen Values Brigade will have a strong presence in primary and secondary schools, with an initial 37,000 members drawn from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
From enforcement to persuasion: NOA’s renewed mission
With the dissolution of the WAI Brigade, the NOA signals a shift from a system rooted in enforcement to one based on persuasion, civic education, and moral reawakening.
Under this restructured model, the Citizen Values Brigade will spearhead a grassroots campaign for attitudinal change — a core mandate of the agency.
“The Citizen Values Brigade will play a persuasive role in attitudinal and behavioral change at the grassroots, which remains one of our main mandates,” Issa-Onilu explained.
This reform aligns with the National Values Charter, emphasiSing discipline through self-awareness, civic responsibility, and community involvement rather than compulsion.
The restructured framework places greater focus on citizen participation, especially among youth, to build a nation driven by shared values and responsible citizenship.
