In Nigeria the basic national ethics and discipline include self reliance, patriotism, loyalty to the nation, honesty, dedication to duty, obedience to authority, respect of elders and seniors in authority, participation in national service, payment of tax, reporting criminals and members of cults to the police, assistance to the poor and the needy, parental care, participation in an election, protection of government property and contribution to national development.
The observance of these ethics and discipline in national life would instill national consciousness on the people. Once a person examines his conduct in line with its effect on the nation, he is bound to participate in the activities that will bring good name and development of the nation.
It is the non observance of national ethics and discipline in Nigeria that has given rise to fraud (419), political unrest, embezzlement of public fund, corruption, indiscipline, forgery, armed robbery, cultism in higher schools of learning, bribery, religious bigotry and fanaticism, exam malpractice, vandalism, and smuggling.
Ethics, morality and discipline have been jettisoned in the conduct of national life for financial gains. Much of the Nigerian problems in terms of development are resultant effect of none observance of ethics and the standard of ethical conduct in national affairs.
A nation is said to be developed when the standard of her discipline and social structures are measured in comparison with others in the developed society.
It is lack of discipline or the non observance of it that characterize Nigeria national life. That’s the reason the Nigeria state has failed to catch up with other developed nations of the world.
Since 1960, when Nigeria started to manage its own affairs, the nation has not been fully developed to match up with other civilized countries of the world.
Indiscipline and corruption has eaten deep into the fabrics of the nation. Chinua Achebe in his book “The Troubles with Nigeria” has clearly pointed out that knowledgeable observers have estimated that as much as 60% of the nation’s wealth is regularly consumed by corruption.
In today’s Nigeria, over 60% of the nation wealth is being pocketed by public office holders; this has helped to slow down the developmental growth of Nigeria nation.
In every aspect of national life (social, political, economic, religious and cultural) it is the observance of ethics and discipline that guide the conduct of individuals towards such activities that stimulate national development.
If politicians and business men in Nigeria observe the ethics and discipline of their occupation; rigging, falsification of election results, embezzlement of public fund, fraud, fake product and smuggling that hinder the development of Nigeria would cease to exist.
If Nigeria teachers, religious leaders, civil servants, politicians and traders should imbibe national ethics and discipline and apply it in their daily life, Nigeria will see significant growth in national development.
One of the problems of Nigeria not matching up in development like other western countries is due to lack of ethics and discipline among the people. Once Nigerians start observing these two norms in the conduct of their affairs, every other activity in national life would change to develop the nation.
Nigeria is highly blessed with human and material resources, the utilization, development and consumption of the resources must be conducted with regard to the ethics and discipline of the nation.
It is the avoidance or non observance of the basic national ethics and discipline in the utilization, development and consumption of national resources that bring underdevelopment to Nigeria. Nigeria citizens should learn to observe and apply discipline in the conduct of their activities.
It is only through observance and application of ethics and discipline that Nigeria could develop to an acceptable standard in the global community of nations.
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