NOA condemns viral video disparaging civil servants, calls on creators to be wary of demoralizing contents

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has called on Nigerians to avoid making statements or producing content that could offend or undermine any segment of society, particularly civil servants.

In a statement made available to Dailytrailnews, Mallam Issa-Onilu condemned a viral video skit promoting the 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300, which features an exchange with the vehicle’s Artificial Intelligence system.

In the video, the promoter asks, “Can civil servants afford you?” to which the AI responds, “No! Maybe in 2062.”

Describing the video as “unfair and insulting,” the NOA Director General expressed concern over the growing trend of mocking hardworking Nigerians, especially public sector workers. He emphasized that such contents can be demoralizing and contributes to the erosion of societal values.

“At a time when Nigerians are facing immense social and economic pressures, and in an environment where the ‘get-rich-at-all-cost’ mentality is pervasive, it is wrong to speak in such condescending terms about Nigerian civil servants,” Issa-Onilu stated.

He noted that civil servants play a vital role in national development, providing the enabling environment for businesses to operate and thrive.

“To be a civil servant in Nigeria, as in most parts of the world, is a position of responsibility and importance. These are individuals who spend decades of their lives ensuring that the machinery of government runs efficiently, often under challenging conditions,” he added.

The NOA boss advised content creators and marketers to be more mindful in their messaging to avoid promoting materialism at the expense of dignity, hard work, and national unity.

“We are responding based on the feedback received from many Nigerians who viewed the video. We urge the creator to take note and be more considerate going forward,” he said.

Mallam Issa-Onilu reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with all Nigerians to foster a society where every citizen is respected, and where the value of honest labour is upheld above material wealth.

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