By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved yesterday the establishment of the National Citizens Value Brigade in primary and secondary schools in Nigeria to stem declining values and raise role models and ambassadors for the country.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Minister stated that FEC also approved several changes in the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation policies to strengthen the national value system, specifically the institution of a national citizens’ value brigade across basic schools.
He said the Council expressed dismay at the gradual erosion of values, especially among the younger ones. This development, it said, has given rise to all forms of misconduct and acts that are not in tune with Nigeria’s traditions and norms.
He said, “Today (Monday), the Council has approved several changes in our policy to strengthen our national value system. The Chief of them 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, which has noted the gradual eroding of our values, especially among the younger ones, which is giving rise to a kind of misbehaviour and acts that are not in tune with our traditions and norms.
“Council has noted that there is a need for strengthening and going back to the core value that Nigeria is known for, 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, in addition to the standardization of national symbols.
He explained that this would be a crucial aspect of the topics to be taught in civic education and instituted and adopted among government appointees at the point of entry into the public service.
“Again, there was approval for including national value charters 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 standardization of our national symbols.
“The national flag, the Naira notes, and everything makes our national symbols.
The Minister mentioned that the National Orientation would be saddled with the task responsibilities.
“The Council has approved that the National Orientation agency will take charge of how our flags are hoisted in an indiscriminate manner and will be standardized; there is a way they should be like in the cars, in the offices, and elsewhere at all times.
“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. At the same time, the government hopes the moves will move the nation further toward the sustainable development path that all citizens desire.
