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Nation building a collective responsibility, Says Malagi

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… Receives blueprint for National Value Charter

Minister of information and national orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi has said the task of nation building is a collective responsibility between the government and the citizens.

The minister stated this Tuesday when received report of the Committee set up by the ministry to draft the framework of the National Value Charter in Abuja.

He said the federal government is determined to define and document the core values that will guide Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion, social and economic status .

He said: “’Let me say, at this juncture, that I am not unaware that many Nigerians have become skeptical and disenchanted with things in the country: security challenges, unemployment, corruption, failed promises, lack of social amenities, illiteracy, and many others.

“These have led many of our youths, our greatest assets as a nation, to emigrate in search of greener pastures. While migration is a natural human activity, many who leave would have wished to stay in a country blessed with human and natural resources if the situation were different.
“We acknowledge this grave dilemma that continues to confront many of our people. We will never be tempted to minimize the pains and challenges and frustrations that Nigerians face. At the same time, we will also always seek to emphasize that making our way out, and advancing along the path of lasting greatness, is a collective responsibility. “
According to the minister, the premise of the National Values Charter which will be launched by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu at a later date is that “the government, as represented by elected and appointed representatives, must fulfil basic non-negotiable promises—in return for fundamental commitments from the citizens. “
According to him, As such, the charter contains seven core promises of the Nigerian state to the citizens, followed by the seven commitments of the citizens towards their country.
This he said is the difference between past efforts at national value reorientation and the present charter.
Malagi said another vital improvement on earlier efforts on national orientation is that the implementation strategy of the current charter is comprehensive, as it considers the various ways the values can become engrained in the hearts and minds of every citizen.
“The National Values Charter also takes into full account the fact that we are a youth-centric and technology-driven world.
“On account of these, we are determined to ensure that the young people of Nigeria own this social contract, and are allowed to take the lead in using it to build, in concert with older generations, a better country, and a better world.
“I have the assurance of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), that various innovative approaches and socialization strategies will be employed to ensure that the Charter becomes part and parcel of our personal and collective existence as Nigerians. “
Speaking further, Malagi lamented that the absence of values, and of a consensus around what our celebrated national values should be has led to the elevation of immorality into our national lifestyle.
“We are therefore left with many serious questions, that need answering: How can we correct these abnormalities and chart a path that will lead us to the great heights that we truly belong to. How do we forge national cohesion and unity from our differences? How do we build the reputational capital of our country, at home and abroad? How do we ensure that the right behaviours and attitudes are the ones that are celebrated? How do we give the younger generation the hope and conviction that the future will be better than yesterday and today? How do we ensure that the ‘labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain’?
“Successive governments have grappled with finding compelling answers to these questions, as we have seen in such slogans as “Nigeria: Good People, Great Nation”, “Change Begins with Me”, the publication in 2020 of a National Ethics and Integrity Policy, among others.
” All of these efforts were geared towards building a nation with positive values that will enable us to be counted among the best in the world.”
He said the present administration is building on past efforts at national value in order to come up with what is acceptable to all.
“Most importantly, we are serious about learning from the shortcomings of the approaches of the past, and ensuring that we do stands the test of time and outlives us,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the director general of National Orienbtation Agency (NOA ) Mallam Lanre Issa- Onilu, said charter will engender a sense of nationalism among Nigerians.

“As you may all be aware, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope programme rests on the two pillars of attitudinal change and a pragmatic approach to policy formulation and implementation.
“The National Values Charter will catalyse national unity. It will evolve a people with a commonality of characteristics, aspirations and a sense of nationalism and pride for their country,” he said.

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