Information minister Mohammed Idris has constituted a committee to finalise Nigeria’s Values Charter.

This was disclosed in the statement issued by the Deputy Director of Press in the Ministry, Suleiman Haruna, on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the minister, the charter embodies a social contract between the country and its citizens.

“It will serve as a blueprint and policy for a national value system, defining us as Nigerians and undergirding our personality as citizens. The committee, which has two weeks to submit its report, includes Dr Muhammed Auwal-Haruna as chairman and Dr Biodun Adeniyi as deputy chairman,” stated the minister.

He added, “Other members are Dr Otive Igbuzor, Dr Emma Agu, Dr Grace Awoleye, Dr Monday Philip, Dr Tunji Azeez, Dr Naima Aminu and Nkechi Ali Balogun.

Theresa Nnalue, the director of Orientation and Behavioural Modification of the National Orientation Agency, will coordinate the committee.

Mr Idris explained that the new policy, to be unveiled in early 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, consists of the ‘Nigerian Promise and the Citizen Codes’.

The minister added that the government intends to incorporate these values into formal, informal, and vocational educational policies.

He explained that it “is common practice” for countries to define their core values and institute policies to transmit a shared value system among the citizens. 

“This would, in the case of Nigeria, help citizens evolve into united people with shared aspirations, a sense of nationalism and pride,” the information minister stressed. 

He added, “Despite the constitutional provision on national values, Nigeria has not implemented a definitive core value system for its citizens.

“As a country of diverse ethnic and cultural values, evolving into a unified nation without a unifying value system has been challenging.” 

(NAN)