FG approves establishment of citizens brigade to restore value in schools

The Federal Executive Council on Monday approved the establishment of the National Citizens Value Brigade across primary and secondary schools in Nigeria, to stem declining value and raise role models and ambassadors for the country.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris disclosed this while briefing newsmen after the Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

Idris stated that FEC also gave approvals to several changes in the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation policies to strengthen the national value system, precisely the institution of national citizens value brigade across basic schools.

According to the Minister, the Council expressed dismay at the gradual erosion of values especially among the younger ones, a development which, it said has given rise to all forms of misconduct and acts that are not in tune with Nigeria’s traditions and norms.

“Today council has approved several changes in our policy to strengthen our national value system, the Chief of it is that the national citizen’s value brigade has been approved to be established in all our primary and secondary schools.

“This will raise the role model citizens from Nigeria council has noted the gradual eroding of our values especially among the younger ones and this is giving rise to a kind of misbehaviour and act that are not in tune with our traditions and our norms.

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“Council has noted that there is a need for strengthening and going back to the core value that Nigeria is known for overtime for which we know that there has been some form of decline.” the Minister added.

Idris said FEC also approved the inclusion of a national value charter to be made mandatory in basic and post-basic school curricula. This is in addition to approved standardization of national symbols.

He explained that this would be a crucial aspect of the topics to be taught in civic education as well as instituted, and adopted among government appointees at the point of entry into the public service.

“Again there was approval of inclusion of national value charter and national symbols to be made mandatory not just in our curriculum but in the teaching of civic education.

“Not just in our curriculum but also among the appointees of government, for example at every retreat at the inception of every administration, members of FEC will have training on what our national values are, as well as the standardisation of our national symbols.

“The national flag, the Naira notes and all those things that make what we call our national symbols.

The Minister mentioned that the National Orientation would be saddled with the responsibilities of the task.

“The Council has approved that the National Orientation agency will take charge of the way our flags are hoisted in an Indiscriminate manner will be standardised, there is a way they should be like in the cars, in the offices and elsewhere at all time.

“There is also the need for value reorientation among Nigerians and this of course, the administration will pay a lot of attention to” the Minister added.

He stated that the objective is to reclaim the declined value system while the government hopes the moves will move the nation further in the direction of a sustainable development path that all citizens desire.