FG unveils National Values Charter for nationhood, patriotism

• Picks Sept. 16 as National Symbols Enlightenment Day
• Rechristens WAI brigade

Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved mandatory inclusion of National Values Charter in the curriculum of schools at both basic and post-basic levels.

In addition, it said government officials, including members of the FEC, National Assembly, Judiciary, and other appointees, would undergo mandatory pre-resumption retreats on the charter.

This was revealed, yesterday, in Lagos by the Director, Human Resources Management, National Orientation Agency, Mrs Ayisola Olowoyo, who also stated that September 16 would now be observed as National Symbols Enlightenment Day, while NOA would serve as the custodian of national symbols, ensuring standardisation of the national flag, anthem, pledge, and coat of arms.

She added that FEC had also approved that “War Against Indiscipline (WAI) brigade” be changed to “Citizens Value Brigade,” saying that WAI brigade was established during the military era, but had remained an anathema as a democratic government could not be seen to be waging war against its citizens over indiscipline.”

She added that Value Orientation would now be a compulsory component of the one-year mandatory National Youth Service, stating that NOA would now be working with NYSC to inculcate national values on fresh graduates of higher institutions of learning.

“FEC also approved the constitution of the implementation committee of 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 the private sector, with NOA as the secretariat.

IN related development, NOA in Enugu has announced its intention to begin a three-month state-wide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaign on Nigeria’s national anthem and National Values Charter.

The Enugu State Director of the agency, Mrs Clara Nwachukwu, stated, yesterday, that the implementation of National Values Charter in the state was meant to foster moral, ethical and cultural reawakening among Nigerians in the state.

Nwachukwu added that the National Values Charter, an initiative of Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, was being implemented through NOA.

According to the NOA chief, the National Values Charter is categorised into two: the Nigerian promise (the promise made by the Nigerian state through its elected representatives) and the citizens code (obligations of the citizenry to nation-building).

“This social contract between the Nigerian state and its people is the pivot upon which countries are built and sustained,” she said.

She also described the new national anthem as a potent call for harmony, equity, and prosperity among Nigerians.

Nwachukwu called on Nigerians in Enugu State to hold tenaciously to the nation’s core values of love, patriotism, resilience, courage, dignity of labour, respect for the sanctity of life, belief in the family as a basic unit of society, justice, fairness, care for the environment, among others.

These, she advised, must not be sacrificed on the altar of unregulated adoption of foreign values.