Role of NOA in restoration of family values in Nigeria

Perhaps, the history of MAMSER and the War against indiscipline cannot be easily forgotten in the minds of the citizens through its landmark achievement in moral reorientation, enforcement of laws and order in public places and institutionalisation of value system among the diverse ethnic groups and the restoration of family values in the country. Many behavior in Nigeria indicates that the level of morality today is very low when compared to the period when MAMSER was household name in all the nooks and cranny of the country moving shoulder high around with the instruments and equipment of sensitization,mobilisation, educating and enlighten the Citizens on government policies programme and activities. Fully equipped with state of the earth public address system conspicuously mounted on their vehicles disseminating the golden messages of National values, Unity and diversity of Nigeria. Interestingly, during that time the staff of MAMSER were well motivated to mobilize Nigerians on a Nationalistic and patriotic line.
Unlike now that government only remember the Agency when there is public uproar. It is worthy of note that the numerous achievement recorded by MAMSER before it was renamed National Orientation Agency [NOA] was as a result of enabling instrument under the Presidency that gave such support for its effectiveness in the discharge of duties throughout the tenure of the erstwhile DGs to attained such heights, Consequently upon the transmission Of power to the present Agency [NOA] the stories became that of Things Fall Apart. The Agency can no longer sustain itself to adequately carried out its Constitutional Mandates to effectively orientate and enlighten Nigerians in a more drastic and vigorous manner to resonate the virtues of family values, moral reorientation and attitudinal change among the heterogeneous ethnic Nationality of the country thereby culminating into the current bastardization of the value system in Nigeria. Where son no longer respect their father in secret and open neither do father recognizes ever having a son, daughter beating and humiliating their mother.
Disorderliness in family values. Son using their parents for rituals, social vices all over the country. The lack of government will to effectively reposition the Agency over the years even though the Agency is strategically positioned in administration of governance had adversely affected the functionality otherwise its performance to curb the growing moral decadence in our society to holistically change the negative mindset of Nigerians in critical components of human lives as it concerns the overall morality and behavior of the citizens towards public and privates lives of the people in more respected way. Just this morning the 13th of Sept.2017, a 16 years old boy from Imo state was apprehended by the Police supplying arms and Ammunition to the armed robbers. This is one out of millions of some of the disorderliness of the family values and immorality I have just enumerated above. How can you imagine such teenager could involves himself to commit such crime at this tender age. Another major factors militating against the dislocation of morality in Nigeria is the total disregard to the educational values inherent in the curriculum that immensely contributed to the formal development of the social well beings of the Child which also helps to uphold the family values by ensuring that when this values is being violated there should be appropriates punishment that commiserate with offence committed. In some clime parents are even happy seeing their wards been punished for violating School roles and regulations. This will help to reshape the entire life style of such Child to appreciate family values ,morality and re-orientation of the Child when he becomes adult in the society. Culture is people way of life. There is no doubt that cultural background does play very important role in the socio-cultural of the society. Globally,there is a goal that is strategically common to all societies irrespective of cultural,economic and Religious belief of the people is to achieve and galvanise support for peaceful coexistence , security and sanctity of human lives at any given times.
Sadly enough, the enormous economic resources of this great Nation Nigeria has been grossly mismanaged and socially bastardized to the detriment of the next generation yet unborn due to the family disconnection from morality. It is evidence in Nigeria today to state the dehumanizing cases of immorality perpetrated by some parents where father sending his daughter into prostitution and other vices critically viewed as inimical to the socio-cultural belief of the country for common quest for monetary gains with a devastating and grave consequences to the lives of the victims. Another vices commonly committed by some parents in Nigeria today is the rising cases of father pregnating his own daughter instead of his legitimate wife. This action is generally termed as abomination, insane and condemnable in Nigeria. It is only in Nigeria that an aged grandfather will have canal knowledge of a four years old female Child and go unpunished due largely to the seemingly eroded family values and respect to human dignity. Furthermore, the rampant cases of lesbianism and homosexual has prominently taken a dangerous dimention among various segments of Nation’s population which requires urgent attention to contend with the trend before it consumes the growing and promising populations of the country from attaining its prospective positions on earth as many viewed the development as alien. Female having an affairs with each other in the name of sexual satisfaction likewise the male counterparts indulged in similar sexual behavior in a very crude, disrespectable and astonishing manner contrary to our culture and belief system as a Nation.
It is also astonishing that some parents or family members could come openly to support their son who had looted government treasury will be celebrated as a true son of the family without recourse to the consequences of his action to the generality of Nigeria. Friends and Associates in some parts of the country equally rejoiced and openly celebrates treasury looters without weighing the implications to the image and reputations of their immediate family’s values and morality. It should be noted that Religion institutions in the country are not left out. In a monumental scale, prayer houses sadly contributed to the gross moral decadence and perverse society we found ourselves in this country by openly eulogizing and embracing the highest donation of offertory in the house of God without questioning the sources of their wealth.
Therefore it is the negative teachings from the Religious leaders that unarguably compounded the ravaging cases of moral disorderliness and the bastardization of family values in Nigeria by failing to punished and ex-communicates criminal worshipping in the Churches or Mosques across the country. Even though stealing and abortion is viewed as abomination and condemned in its entities by both Religious, some still embraced it and condoned it while some parents make fortunes out it leading to the complete destructions of the family values. Going down memory lane, during the time of MAMSER, family values was not only respected and applauded with almost integrity but were massively recognized by the society within the areas where the individuals resides. Also a time in the history of the country when people of young age transfer values acquired from immediate family to next generations after them. These categories of young boys and girls during this period would only remember and appreciate values and not celebrating materialism as it is the case of today. Family names was well adored and protected anytime anywhere from abuse and embarrassment . It was revealed from a very closed family friend that his family have resolved to rather die than anything on earth to drag the name of the family to the mud. Believing in the strength and ability of the family to survive through hard work and selfless service to the fatherland. It could be adduced from various research that the systemic failure in the country for effective performance, formulations and implementations of government policies for the benefits of the citizens is occasioned by the inability of government to consistently sustain and improve funding of NOA to perform its statutory mandates in the country.
In the United states of America for instance, an Agency like NOA has the required budgetary allocations more than any other Agency of government because of the strategic position of the Agency that deals with moral re-orientation,attitudinal and behavioral change of the citizens. Optimal Revenue Generation of any Nation can be improved or enhance when there is peace and total respect to the constituted authority by law abiding citizen as well as proper platform to adequately informed and sensitized the conscious and subconscious minds of the people on government policies , program and activities at all times. If the above view points is traditionally adhere to, the country will sooner or later get out of this endemic corruption that has rubbished the good name of the country and our God given resources. Then the citizens will now understand that corruption is a sin against God and humanity and even against the law of Nature. Again, this can be achieved through the restoration of family values and morality in the society. God bless Nigeria.

Shaibu Danjuma is Head of Media and Communication NOA Bauchi. Email:danjumaabu143@gmail.com