The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has constituted a ten-man committee to finalise Nigeria’s Values Charter, which will embody a social contract between the country and its citizens.
It is indeed, the blueprint and policy document for a national value system that defines us as Nigerians whilst undergirding our personality as citizens.
The new policy, which will be unveiled in early 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, consists of the Nigerian Promise and the Citizen Codes and has seven pillars each. The government intends to incorporate these values into formal, informal, and vocational educational policies.
In a Notification dated Wednesday December 6, 2023, and signed by Suleiman Haruna, Deputy Director, Press, at The Federal Ministry of Information, Members of The Committee were listed as follows :
- Dr. Muhammed Awal Haruna – Chairman
- Dr. Biodun Adeniyi - Deputy Chairman
- Dr. Otive Igbuzor - Member
- Dr. Emma Agu- Member
- Dr. Grace Awoleye- Member
- Dr. Monday Philip- Member
- Dr. Tunji Azeez- Member
- Dr. Naima Aminu- Member
- Nkechi Ali Balogun- Member
Mrs. Theresa Nnalue, Director of Orientation and Behavioural Modification (OBM), of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) is the Committee Coordinator.
Ideally, countries define their core values and institute policies to transmit such among the citizens, which, in the case of Nigeria, would help evolve a united people with common aspirations, a sense of nationalism, and pride.
Despite the Constitutional provision of national values, Nigeria has not implemented same for its citizens. As a country of diverse ethnic and cultural values, this omission has made the issue of our National Unity, very challenging.
The committee has a two week time frame to conclude its assignment.