Much Ado About National Honours Award

The topic that dominated the media space this week was the National Honours award. Recall that in the seven years of his administration, this is the first time President Muhammadu Buhari will be conferring the national honors award to distinguish Nigerians. I believe this was his parting gift to some Nigerians.

Even before the awards, controversy surfaced over the omission of some names particularly former Senate President, Bukola Saraki. I also share the view that if former Speaker Yakubu Dogara was conferred with a CFR award there is no reason why Saraki should not be given a GCON award as a former senate President.

The major talking point in the award was the perceived disrespect to the office and person of President Buhari by Teni the entertainer. The issue has been trending since with arguments for and against it. But one major thing some Nigerians need to know is that the person and office of the president are different. You may not like the face of the current occupier, but you have to respect the office of the president.

Another trending moment was the surprised look on President Buhari’s face when he saw the attire of the co-founder of paystack.

I think the picture of the day was President Buhari alongside the minister of special duties, George Akume bending down to pick the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama’s paper on the floor.

In his remarks, President Buhari said citizens who contribute to national development deserve to be encouraged and appreciated.

Leading the 2022 National Honours Award recipients, in the category of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) are Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, immediate past CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Director-General, World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Deputy Secretary-General of UN, Amina Mohammed and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.

Speaking at the event, the President in a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina commended the National Awards Committee headed by the highly revered Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, the Emir of Lafia, for a great and patriotic duty by diligently going through over 5,000 submissions and coming up with these recommendations.

The President noted that the screening and selection of nominees for this year’s award always followed established broad criteria, following the National Honours Act CAP.N43 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

They include but are not limited to: ‘‘consistent and meaningful participation in community and/or national development; rendering unsolicited, selfless and philanthropic services to humanity; outstanding sacrifice in the defense of a cause popularly adjudged to be positive, relevant and beneficial to the nation and community.’’

Other criteria listed by the President for selecting the recipients are:

‘‘Distinct act of bravery in the protection and/or defense of national interest, public peace, the safety of life and property.

‘‘Remarkable achievement in any field of expertise where the person’s activities in that field have made significant contributions to the attainment of national goals and objectives.

‘‘Immense contributions towards the uplift of community, state, nation and/or humanity through achievements by way of inventions and bringing outstanding honor and glory to the state through personal dedication and patriotic commitment. Service with integrity is also a basis for the selection process.’’

Emphasising that nation-building involves a lot of sacrifice by the citizenry, the President declared that citizens who contribute to national development deserve to be encouraged and appreciated.

He, therefore, lauded the 2022 National Award recipients for distinguishing themselves in various ways ‘‘to recreate a new Nigeria of our dreams through respect for the rule of law, image laundering, transparency and accountability in the management of scarce resources.’’