IT’S another day to talk about NOA ON THE MOVE. In today’s edition we will explain the Nigeria Promise one after the other to provide a thorough comprehension.
THE NIGERIAN PROMISE
The Nigerian Promise is the social contract that the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) established as its goals for governing its people and sustaining national sovereignty. The seven main promises are:
1. EQUALITY: Is a concept that every Nigerian is constitutionally recognised as equal before the law. Equality here takes due cognizance of and operates alongside equity and justice.
• The Nigerian state shall consider every Nigerian to have the same privileges and opportunities as any other Nigerian, unless otherwise stated by laws or courts.
Nigeria recognises the right of every citizen to practice his or her religion.
• Nigeria sees males and females as equal.
• Nigeria shall treat every citizen impartially, fairly, properly, and reasonably by the dictate of law and by arbiters of the law to ensure justice for all.
• The Nigerian state shall protect the rights of all citizens under the law.
2. DEMOCRACY: The Nigerian state recognises only democracy, a system that allows citizens to elect officials who will run the affairs of the state on their behalf. The country will hereby uphold the tenets of democracy, ensuring citizens’ healthy participation and freedom of choice.
• Nigeria shall hold periodic credible, free, and fair elections according to the provisions of the constitution.
• Nigeria shall uphold every individual’s right to vote and be voted for.
• Nigeria shall continue to provide an enabling environment for multi-party democracy.
• The Nigerian state shall obey the rule of law and court orders.
• Nigeria shall promote freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
• Nigeria shall respect the independence of the judiciary.
• The government shall at all times guarantee the security of lives and property and protect the nation’s sovereignty.
• Nigeria shall ensure the provision of basic amenities and social services.
• Mindful of the rising social vices in society, the government shall continuously make deliberate efforts to strengthen institutional structures to stem the prevalence of these anti-social behaviours.
• Nigerian citizens shall have access to quality education as an inalienable right.
• Nigeria shall ensure the provision of basic amenities and social services (health, education, power, etc.) to the citizens.
• Elected officials at all levels shall ensure transparency, accountability, and prudent management of all human and material resources.
• The government shall treat the prompt payment of pensions and gratuities as a non-negotiable responsibility.
• Leaders shall lead by example by avoiding ostentatious lifestyles, displays of affluence, and poor and violent communication.
• Public officeholders shall abide by their oaths of office and be held responsible for any acts of corruption.
3. ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Nigeria is a blessed land full of opportunities and it shall create enabling environment for citizens to use their skills, talents, abilities, creativity, and innovation to harness opportunities around them. Nigeria recognises children and youth as assets, the driving force, and the future of the nation.
Therefore, youth empowerment will be a national priority. The provision of opportunities for youth employment shall be vigorously pursued and binding on the government.
• The government shall work in synergy with the private sector to create employment opportunities for Nigerian youth.
• The government shall provide an enabling environment that will discourage irregular and avoidable migration.
• Nigeria shall provide all necessary support to safeguard and protect the future of children and youth.
• Nigeria shall grant access to citizens to trade, provide services, and create wealth to the best of their abilities within the confines of the law.
• Nigeria shall provide technical, financial, and infrastructural support to promote trade and industry.
• Nigeria shall provide entrepreneurial education and vocational skill acquisition.
• Nigeria shall regulate trading according to the laws to protect national sovereignty.
• Nigeria shall promote deliberate policies to encourage creativity, innovation, science, technology, and enterprise for its citizens and the country.
• Nigeria shall ensure fairness in elective and appointive positions in public office.
4. PEACE: is the bedrock of national development and guarantees the stability of government, governance, and the running of daily business and life. As a result,
• Nigeria shall secure its territorial integrity for its citizens to pursue their legitimate enterprises and for the nation to prosper.
• The Nigerian state shall run and maintain well-equipped and highly motivated armed forces to secure its territorial integrity.
• The Nigerian state shall run and maintain a well-equipped and highly motivated police force and other paramilitary organisations to maintain law and order in the country.
• The Nigerian state shall protect the seat of government and its citizens against internal insurrection and external aggression.
• The Nigerian state shall create a safe and conducive environment for citizens to pursue their legitimate enterprise, pleasure, and leisure.
• Nigeria shall protect its national assets.
• Nigeria shall protect the lives and property of its citizens.
5. INCLUSIVITY: This is about ensuring the involvement and integration of all interests and groups for wholesome participation in nation-building efforts. Inclusivity is helpful for representation and for ensuring entities are part of national endeavours. Inclusivity is important because:
• Exclusivity is injustice. Inclusivity is fairness. This is the national ideal of recognising the rights of Nigerian citizens and setting a transparent system that provides access and resources to all states, communities, and people under the nation to enhance their social and economic well-being.
• It enables Nigeria to recognise and respect gender equality in politics, governance, and other social endeavours.
• It ensures the inclusion of all categories of persons, including children, youth, women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, persons living with HIV/AIDS, etc.
• It safeguards the rights of all its components—geo-political zones, states, and peoples—to participate in elections, to vote, and to be voted for.
• It guarantees that every geopolitical zone, state, local government, and institution gets their fair share of national allocations and other applicable resources.
• All parts of the country, all cultures, and all people of the Nigerian state shall be fully integrated into the national social, economic, and political setup.
6 FREEDOM: Freedom and justice are fundamental for their ability to permit the full expression of citizens’ possibilities, guarantee their rights and liberties, and provide the opportunities to seek redress when the need arises. Under this, we state as follows:
• The Government of Nigeria shall uphold Section 35, Subsection (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which is a fundamental human right and a key ingredient of the National Values Charter. A free and just society devoid of undue restrictions is a necessary requirement.
• Every citizen shall be allowed to live a life free from unlawful restrictions in matters including faith, career, or views.
• Every Nigerian shall be treated with fairness, equity, and justice.
• Every Nigerian shall be treated justly under the provisions of the constitution.
• Every citizen shall be free from intimidation and harassment.
• Every citizen, regardless of economic status, shall have the right to access legal representation, ensuring equal opportunities for a fair defence.
• The fundamental human rights of every citizen shall be rigorously upheld and protected, fostering a society where individuals can express their beliefs, pursue their chosen careers, and voice their opinions without unlawful restriction.
• Opportunities for rehabilitation shall be extended to every citizen after punishment, promoting the possibility of reform and successful reintegration into society.
• Every community shall actively participate in the justice process, embracing community policing and restorative justice practices to ensure that local perspectives are considered, fostering a sense of collective responsibility for safety and well-being.
• Punishments for crimes committed by citizens shall be proportionate to the severity of the offence, avoiding excessive or overly harsh penalties, thereby promoting a justice system based on fairness and equity.
• Victims who are Nigerian citizens will have their rights and well-being prioritised, with the provision of comprehensive support and compensation to aid in their recovery and reparation.
• The legal system shall actively promote the knowledge of citizens, empowering individuals to understand and navigate legal processes, thereby fostering a culture of respect for the law and justice.
• Every Nigerian citizen shall be held accountable for their actions on both local and global scales, cooperating and adhering to international laws, and ensuring a commitment to justice and ethical conduct at all levels.
• To decongest the courts and the prisons in the country, citizens are encouraged to use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) systems as an effective means of resolving conflicts and promoting swift and efficient justice.
7. MERITOCRACY Nigeria owes it to its citizens to promote a culture of meritocracy in public and private service to ensure that only the best and most qualified are placed in deserving positions and get the opportunities meant for its citizens without prejudice to constitutional provisions for inclusion. As a result, Nigeria shall observe the following:
• Ensure that persons who are appointed to positions of authority are suitably qualified.
• Ensure that possession of skills is emphasized in consideration for positions where professionalism is paramount.
• Every citizen shall have equal opportunities to access education, employment, and public services based on merit, fostering a society where individuals are rewarded based on their abilities and achievements.
Meritocracy shall be upheld in government institutions, ensuring that appointments and promotions are based on competence, qualifications, and performance rather than factors such as nepotism or favouritism.
• Public policies and initiatives shall be designed to empower citizens to develop their skills and talents, creating an environment where merit is the primary determinant of success.
• The government shall establish transparent and merit-based systems for recruitment and advancement in the public and private sectors, promoting fairness and equal opportunity for all.
• Access to social and economic opportunities shall be determined by individual merit, encouraging a culture of hard work, innovation, and excellence among Nigerian citizens.
• Meritocracy shall be embedded in the educational system, with emphasis on recognizing and nurturing talents, irrespective of socio-economic backgrounds, to prepare the youth for future leadership roles.
• The government shall actively combat corruption and unethical practices, ensuring that merit remains the guiding principle in all aspects of governance and public life.
• Recognition and rewards shall be given to individuals who contribute significantly to society based on their merit, inspiring a sense of pride and motivation among the Nigerian populace.
These are the seven essential pledges made by the nation, as represented by all elected officials, as outlined in the new National Values Charter: guaranteed peace, unity, security, stability, and harmony.
Bimbola Sulaiman, a trained journalist and broadcaster, is a staff of National Orientation Agency (NOA), office of the Director General, Lanre Issa-Onilu.
Her column ‘NOA ON THE MOVE’, a sponsored partnership with News Point Nigeria, appears on this platform on Thursdays. She can be reached on bimbolasulaiman@gmail.com. Twitter: @bimssulaiman, Instagram: bimbolasulaiman, Linkedln: @ Bimbola Sulaiman