The Nigerian Senate has sounded a major alarm over the deepening culture of indiscipline across the country, warning that the growing trend is directly fuelling insecurity, criminality and the rapid erosion of the nation’s social fabric, and has tasked the National Orientation Agency with leading a coordinated national campaign to reverse the tide.

The upper chamber passed a resolution on Wednesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Dachung Pam Mwadkon representing Plateau North, who raised concern over an alarming array of indiscipline across virtually every sector of Nigerian society. These included rampant traffic violations, public disorder, vandalism, disregard for lawful authority, political intolerance, breaches of protocol at public functions, and the increasingly reckless and irresponsible use of social media platforms.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who joined the debate with characteristic vigour, declared that indiscipline remains one of the fundamental root causes of banditry, crime and social disorder plaguing the country. He drew a striking comparison between Nigerians’ conduct at home and abroad, noting the irony that many citizens who flout rules and standards in Nigeria readily comply with the same kind of regulations when they travel to other countries.

“Discipline should start from the home,” Akpabio said. “Nigerians travel abroad and obey the rules in other countries, yet many disregard the same standards at home. Both the rich and the poor engage in acts that undermine societal order.” He warned that if left unchecked, the growing culture of indiscipline would further erode national security, hamper economic growth, weaken the education system and undermine democratic governance.

The Senate urged the NOA to intensify public enlightenment campaigns and develop targeted programmes aimed at restoring discipline, civic responsibility and deep respect for lawful authority among Nigerians, with particular emphasis on children and young people. The upper chamber also called on the Federal Government through its relevant ministries, departments and agencies to develop and implement a comprehensive National Re-orientation and Civic Responsibility Programme designed to promote patriotism, integrity and responsible citizenship across the country.

Senators further urged public officeholders, political parties, public institutions, and community leaders to lead by example, demonstrating the kind of exemplary conduct capable of inspiring discipline, accountability and responsible leadership at every level of Nigerian society. The chamber also called for a strengthening of youth development, skills acquisition, employment generation, and social intervention programmes as part of a holistic approach to tackling some of the underlying conditions that breed indiscipline in the first place.