Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku, has lamented the decline in societal values in Nigeria, warning that the country has witnessed a troubling shift from a culture of integrity and hard work to one increasingly tolerant of malpractice and corruption.

Anyaoku made this lamentation at the 29th anniversary of the Hallmarks for Labour Foundation (HLF) and the great Nigerian award ceremony.

The award held in Lagos awarded 13 Nigerians, while five received posthumous awards and a school was recognised for excellence.

Anyaoku recalled that during his youth, examination malpractice was virtually non-existent, stressing that success was widely understood to be the product of diligence and discipline.

The elder statesman, who disclosed that he was now 93 years old, expressed deep concern over what he described as a sharp moral decline in the country, particularly among younger generations.

According to him, the situation has worsened to the extent that some parents and guardians aid their children in cheating during examinations, leading to the acquisition of unmerited certificates.

Anyaoku, who was the chairman, further decried the widespread corruption in the country, contrasting it with earlier times when corrupt practices were openly condemned.

He criticised the growing trend where churches, mosques, and communities celebrate wealth without questioning its source, including the conferment of chieftaincy titles on individuals with questionable riches.

The former diplomat emphasised that the essence of the role model awards was to inspire both young and older Nigerians to embrace values such as integrity, honesty, and hard work.

Meanwhile, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has welcomed the decision of the Federal High Court ordering the arrest of the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and a Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, over alleged fraud involving $1.3 million and N746.6 million.

In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society organisation described the development as a major step toward strengthening accountability in Nigeria’s public sector, particularly in agencies responsible for social welfare and intervention programmes.

The arrest warrant issued by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie followed the defendants’ failure to appear in court to answer to a 21-count charge bordering on alleged breach of trust, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds, as filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The anti-corruption organisation maintained that the alleged diversion of funds meant for vulnerable Nigerians represented a grave breach of public trust and underscored systemic challenges in the management of social intervention programmes.

HEDA, therefore, called on the EFCC and relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure the immediate execution of the court’s order and ensure that the defendants were brought before the court without further delay.