Nigeria replaces military-era ‘War Against Indiscipline’ volunteer force with ‘Citizens Values Brigade’

Nigeria’s National Orientation Agency (NOA) has announced the dissolution of its long-standing volunteer arm, the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade, and its immediate replacement with the Citizens Values Brigade. The decision, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), aims to shed a military-era legacy and align the agency’s civic engagement efforts with democratic principles.

​NOA Director-General Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu confirmed the change, stating that the WAI Brigade nomenclature was no longer appropriate under a democratic dispensation. The move follows an FEC resolution from September 2024 and is part of a larger legislative effort to amend the NOA’s governing Act.

Issa-Onilu stressed that the use of militaristic language like “War Against Indiscipline” and the associated perception of coercion conflict with the current system of governance.

​”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.”

​The dissolution of the WAI Brigade marks a shift in approach for the NOA, which is tasked with promoting national identity and civic responsibility. The original War Against Indiscipline campaign was launched during the military regime of then Major General Muhammadu Buhari in the early 1980s, focusing on issues like sanitation, queue culture, and public service etiquette.

While the campaign was initially lauded for improving public behavior, its name and methods have long been associated with authoritarian rule.

​The newly formed Citizen Values Brigade is designed to lead a persuasive role in attitudinal and behavioral change at the grassroots level. This new volunteer arm is a key component of a wider reform agenda under the Nigeria Identity Project and its National Values Charter.

The brigade is slated to begin operations in primary and secondary schools, starting with an initial membership of 37,000 drawn from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The agency has encouraged former WAI Brigade members to await new operational guidelines, which will outline the structure and enlistment process for reapplying to the Citizens Values Brigade. The legislative amendment to the NOA Establishment Act is currently underway to officially reflect the objectives of the Nigeria Identity Project and the new volunteer structure.