The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr alone Issa-Onilu on Thursday urged Nigerians to imbibe the values embodied in the National Value Charter (NVC) in their daily lives.
Issa-Onilu made the call while presenting his address during a town hall meeting with community leaders, trade unions, and retirees on nationwide sensitisation on national anthem and national value charter organised by the NOA in Owerri.
The DG who was represented by the State Director of NOA, Mrs Stellamaris Demian-Igwe said the agency developed the NVC blueprint to guide Nigerians in their daily lives while promoting moral, ethical and cultural values.
He also said that the main focus of the charter is to build the character of Nigerians by promoting a national value system that guides the behaviour of leaders and citizens.
The NOA boss said that NVC was designed to ensure that the value orientation of Nigerians cuts across various age groups, starting from school-age children to graduates undergoing the national youth service.
He further said that the Federal Executive Council had also approved the mandatory inclusion of the NVC in the pre-resumption retreat for FEC members, national assembly members, the judiciary and other government appointees.
He said that the training, which would foster an understanding of roles and responsibilities, is critical for building a competent, ethical, practical public service.
He said that the agency had in the last one year pursued its mandate of promoting values that would ensure peace, orderliness and moral conduct with vigour, coming up with new ways of meeting their targets.
He listed some of the methods to include social media engagement, community engagements, and distribution of social behavioural change communication materials, among others.
In an address, the Imo State Director of NOA, Mrs Stellamaris Demian-Igwe, said the sensitisation was aimed at educating the public on the national anthem and the NVC.
She said the NVC covers the “seven-for-seven” reciprocal commitments between the country and the citizens to ensure accountability in governance.
She listed the commitment of the Nigerian state as equality, democracy, entrepreneurship, peace, inclusivity, freedom, and meritocracy, while the citizen’s commitments are discipline, duty of care, tolerance, leadership, accountability, environmental awareness, and resilience.
” The charter seeks to entrench the right values, attitudes, habits and perspectives deep in the hearts and minds of all Nigerians.
“It ensures that all Nigerians are fully aware of their rights and protections under the constitution and laws of the land and ensures that governments at all levels are aware of the constitutionally guaranteed obligations they owe to the citizenry,” she said.
The state director also said that the charter also encourages citizens to demonstrate patriotism and good character in their daily lives.
C-Advocate reports that participants called on the government to practically reflect the words of the anthem in their leadership style and policies they introduce.
Our correspondent also reports that a paper titled National Anthem and National Values was also presented at the workshop by Dr Mike Opara.