Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has restated its commitment towards redefining the country for better recognition by keying into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s government through the establishment of a national life charter that will spell out what it wanted from Nigerians.
The Director General, NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, who made the declaration during a working visit and interaction with the agency staff in Ekiti State, said the agency would soon launch the national lifestyle charter which will define responsibilities of government and expectations from the citizens.
Issa-Onilu, who noted that all Nigerians should rather be blamed for the decadence in the country than apportioning blame to any leader, added that the NOA was ready to change the narrative through the renewed agenda and ensure ethical re-orientation and citizens’ mobilization for increased development of the country through the national charter.
The DG explained that the National life charter was aimed at instituting a well grounded social contract where the citizenry has certain expectations of the country with emphasis on core values needed in building a patriotic ecosystem for sustainable growth and development of the country.
“As at today, we don’t have a definitive statement on who we are. We have a national anthem and we all know it. The same way you must be able to define who the citizen of your country are supposed to be.
“What are the principles that we have put in place as Nigerians to say this is how we are or who we are as Nigerians.So, these principles have to be spelt out so that we are not in doubt as what is expected of us as citizens.
“So, it’s the commonality of that features that will make us to be unique citizens and make us different from other countries. We must know who we are and what constitutes a Nigerian so that anybody who steps out of that can say he or she is not a good Nigerian,” Issa-Onilu said.
The NOA DG said there are certain values that needed to be instilled among the citizens including honesty, integrity, patriotism, obedience, unity, discipline and tolerance towards building a sane country.
He noted that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful progress unless the citizens make these virtues part of their lifestyle and guiding principles.
Issa-Onilu, who lamented that Nigeria has lost its core values due to moral decadence, added that revitalizing the lost national values was germane because it was the missing link breeding moral decadence in the country.
“Our lifestyles are not cultism, banditry, drug abuse, hooliganism and kidnapping. Our lifestyles are honesty, handwork but we lost our way. And if you are in the state of despair, you may lose hope. But now, the new administration is bringing a renewed hope and that means we have to go back to who we are.
“We are not creating any new Nigeria. We are going back to real Nigeria. We must know who we are and what constitutes a Nigerian so that anybody who steps out of that can say he or she is not a good Nigerian,” he added.
Earlier while addressing members of staff, the DG urged them to brace up for the task ahead and show better dedication to the service of educating the public on government policies and programmes.
