….Set to launch Nigeria National Values Charter
The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has called on Nigerians, home and abroad to align themselves with the ongoing value reorientation programme of government that will help promote patriotism, discipline, integrity and social justice in the country.
This is as the agency is set to launch a new National Values Charter for the country, which is an approved codes of conduct and behaviours expected from every Nigerian both the leaders and the led.
Director General of the, NOA, Mallam Lanre Isa-onilu made the call at a briefing in Lagos on the New National Anthem and National Values Charter.
“In the last two weeks, the National Orientation Agency has achieved some milestone in its bid to re-engineer the focus of its campaigns nationwide.
“As you may be aware, we have been advocating for a fundamental approach to value orientation and attitudinal change campaigns. In collaboration with our parent ministry, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the Agency submitted for the consideration of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), some proposals seeking to entrench our value orientation processes. Many of them deal with young age indoctrination, providing the template for evaluation of the Real Nigerian character”, stated Mallam Isa-Onilu who was represented at the occasion by the agency’s Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Olowoyo Joana Ayisola.
Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu said to ensure efficiency in driving the Values Charter which the agency would launch any moment from now, the Federal Executive Council has approved the mandatory inclusion of the charter as part of the curricular of schools at both the basic and post basic schools.
Similarly, he said that the teaching of the charter has also been made a mandatory component of pre-resumption retreat for the FEC, the national Assembly members, the judiciary and other government appointees.
Mallam Isa-Onilu further stated that that September 16 every year will now be observed as National Symbols Enlightenment Day towards the restoration of the dignity and standardisation of country’s national Symbols such as the National Flag, Anthem, Pledge and the Coat of Arm, while stressing the importance of civic education for the socio-economic development of the country.
Additionally, he said that the FEC also approved that the first stanza of the National Anthem should be rendered at all official functions, while the three stanzas should be for special occasion such as Independence Day, Democracy Day, Inauguration of the National Assembly, Children’s Day, Armed Forces Remembrance Day and workers day, with the third stanza adopted as national Prayer.
Isa-Onilu highlighted other approvals by the FEC to include,
“Citizenship study to be made compulsory component of our educational system from primary to secondary levels of education.
” Further directing the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigerian Education Research Development Council and other relevant government institutions and stakeholders to work with NOA to develop a curriculum
for citizenship education.
“The approval of the nationalisation of cartoon content in Nigeria to break the dominance of foreign cartoons in the country and to promote our values, cultures, heroes, and lifestyles. This will also encourage local cartoon content creators through various forms of government support to create jobs and develop the animation movie sub sector.
“Approved the global implementation of the campaign for national reputation management as part of the National Identity project.
“ Approved the change of name from the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) brigade to Citizens Value Brigade. The WAI brigade of the NOA was established during the military era but has remained an anathema as a democratic government cannot be seen to be waging war against its citizens over indiscipline.
“ Approve that Value Orientation be made compulsory component of the one year mandatory national youth Service with NOA working with NYSC to inculcate national values on fresh graduates of higher institutions of learning.
“The FEC also approved the constitution of the implementation committee for the National Identity project comprising top government officials, selected private sector players, representatives of traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women groups to be co-chaired by representatives of the federal government and private sector, with the NOA as secretariat.
NOA should vigorously promote these symbols to ensure that they are accorded respect, properly displayed and handled including the hoisting of the national flag in the public building, in order to build up love for the country, strong national identity, unity and pride”, he submitted.
In his remark, the Lagos State NOA Director, Dr. Mustafa Adedeji Tukur stressed that the National Charter would ensure harmony between the citizens and the government.
Tukur revealed that roadshows and other awareness programmes to sensitize Lagosians on the Charter, National Symbols and New National Anthem anthem would kick off aggressively in the coming days across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.
“We will engage our Local Government offices. They are going to visit schools. We have IEC materials, and we also need to emphasise the National Values Charter at that level.
” In fact, it is more difficult to pass such messages at that level. So we are going to, of course, go to the grassroots, and across the state. In fact, the beauty of this programme is that all our 20 LGAs are going to be carrying out these programmes simultaneously. The essence of this is for the entire State to feel the effect”
The campaign on the new national values would involve quiz competitions to enlighten Nigerians on the programmes of government to move the country forward.
