Ude Ogbonnaya Israel
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has issued a formal caution to popular Abuja-based luxury car dealer, Sarkin Mota, over a recent video skit deemed derogatory to Nigerian civil servants. The skit, which features a 2023 Mercedes Benz C300 with AI functionalities, sparked widespread criticism after a character asked, “Can civil servants afford you?”, to which the car’s artificial intelligence responded, “No! Maybe in 2062.”
In an official letter signed by the Director-General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the agency expressed disapproval of the skit’s tone, describing it as “condescending” and potentially harmful to the morale of civil servants across the country.
“At a time when Nigerians are passing through so much social pressure and in an environment where get-it-at-all-cost syndrome is pervasive, it is wrong to be speaking in such condescending terms about Nigerian civil servants,” the letter read.
The agency stressed the essential role civil servants play in national development, stating that they “drive the machinery of government” and provide the enabling environment for businesses, such as Sarkin Mota’s, to thrive.
The NOA further advised the car dealer to be mindful of his language and messaging, especially in promotional content, so as not to “hurt the sensibilities of any segment of Nigerians.” The response, the agency noted, came as a result of feedback from viewers who found the content insensitive.
The letter concluded with a reaffirmation of the NOA’s commitment to building a nation “where dignity of labour is valued over and above material things,” and extended best wishes to Sarkin Mota in his future endeavors.
The skit has since gone viral, drawing mixed reactions on social media, with some supporting the dealer’s artistic expression and others echoing the NOA’s concerns over the portrayal of Nigeria’s public service workforce.