National Honours: Awardees Still Waiting for Medals, Certificates
Written by Olusola Fabiyi and Friday Olokor
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The Federal Government has yet to give medals and certificates to some Nigerians and foreigners who were bestowed with national honours in Abuja on November 14, investigation has revealed.
Our correspondents learnt that the government had failed to honour its promise that the awardees would receive their certificates and medals a week after the event, as promised by the Secretary to the Government, Chief Pius Anyim.
President Goodluck Jonathan had conferred the various classes of national honours on 355 Nigerians amidst tight security.
But as a result of the shortage, many of the honourees were unable to get their medals and certificates as was the tradition.
Anyim had blamed it on the large number of recipients in the 2011 awards ceremony.
He also promised those who could not receive their medals and certificates that they would have the materials "in the next one week."
However, a month after the promise, the awardees were still expecting the government to fulfill its promise.
But a source close to the SGF office attributed the shortage of the medals to the inclusion of associates of some people close to the government on the list.
The source said medals brought to the venue were meant for those on the original list before "interference" from "high quarters".
He said there was no way the medals would not have been enough because "the event was planned ahead and we knew the number of the people to be given the awards.
"So, when different kinds of people were bringing their friends, in-laws, partners, and even girlfriends, that was when we started having problems with the medals and certificates.
However, some of the awardees, who spoke with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Sunday, wondered why the government would give them awards without a certificates and medals.
Among those that were not given medals on that day were former Governors Saidu Bada (Katsina), Rufus Ada George (Rivers), Clement Ebri (Cross River). Others include Chief Jim Ovia, Chief Ikide Arumeni.
The Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, was lucky as he received a certificate.
He and others have been waiting for their medals since then.
Anyim’s Special Assistant, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi told one of our correspondents on the telephone that he was not aware there was a shortage of medals and certificates during the ceremony.
He, however, called back to say he would confirm whether the report was true or not.
He said, "I am not aware of that." Later, he called to say "I will need to get to office and find out what really happened. You know that today is Sunday."
Source: Punch, 12th December 2011.
Jonathan chides critics, says National Honours Awards credible
TONY AILEMEN
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday chided critics of the National Honours’ Award describing as "rigorous" the process that brought up the recepients.
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The President, who spoke against the backdrop of several criticisms that have so far trailed the award while conferring the National Honours on recipients yesterday, however, assured that he has already directed the organizers to take steps to ensure improvement in the process.
He said: "One thing I am aware of is that there have been criticisms of the National Award nominations and selection process. I have since directed the appropriate departments to note the concerns that have been expressed and to take steps to ensure further improvement so that the National Honours award can continue to serve its purpose.
"Those who by their innate abilities and creative energies have been able to make impact in our society even deserve more honour than those of us holding political offices. So we would continue to encourage enterprise, creativity and Nigerians who have excelled in whatever form. A welder, electrician or anybody who by virtue of what you do, you’ve done it with much dedication and impacted society significantly can be honoured by the President".
The President said this shortly after he presented 355 distinguished Nigerians with various national honours, bringing the total number of awardees so far to 3,924 since it began in 1963.
A breakdown of the awards shows one Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), 65 Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON); 38 Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), 74 Officer of the Order Federal Republic (OFR); 69 Member of the Officer of the Order Federal Republic (MFR), 71 Order of the Niger (OON); 28 Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), two First Class Federal Republic Medal and three Second Class Federal Republic Medal.
Top on the list of the recipients are, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (GCON), Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal among the 38 CFR recipients. The nine governors of Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Edo, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Rivers and Jigawa states and nine former governors were among the 65 recipients that got CON.
Others include His Majesty King (Prof.) Theophilus Jacob Tom Princewill, the Amachree XI, Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom and Chairman of Rivers State Traditional Council of Chiefs among other distinguished Nigerians.
His Majesty was described as a foremost Professor of Medical Microbiology who distinguished himself in Academia as a lecturer and well sought after External Examiner to various Universities. He served as Head of Department of Microbiology University of Port Harcourt from 1982-1984. Dean of Students Affairs of University of Port Harcourt from 1985-1986, Dean, School of Graduates Studies, University of Port Harcourt, 1987-1990; Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt from 1991-2000.
Jonathan said the National Honours award was not merely decorative; as they serve to remind Nigerians and recipients in particular, about important part of the citizens’ responsibilities.
"We must always endeavour to do the best for our country even as we realize with deep humility that all human beings are fallible; we must look forward with confidence and hope that our country through each and every one of us can indeed put its God given endowment to the best possible use"
The President who expressed the fears that very young Nigerians are already a bit confused about how people are selected for National Honours, noted that even the most celebrated Nobel peace prize is being criticized adding that definitely such criticisms should be expected.
"But in Nigeria, you have three awards: two are parallel, and we gave two today, the GCFR and GCON series and of course the Nigerian National Merit Award. The Nigerian National Merit award is meant for scholars and not just scholars but scholars with distinction and the committee that will select those who will receive hat award are among the eggheads".
Jonathan says he plays almost no role in selecting who wins the National Merit Award, because that is for academic division, disclosing that the President plays only the ceremonial position of just decorating or presenting the award to those scholars.
"But the National Honours criteria are different. It is based on what an individual has contributed to his community, his state, his country and how you have projected this country outside. It does not depend on how many certificates you have, it does not depend even on the size of certificate you have and it does not even depend on the status you have in the society and I need to mention that".
He said the award is not a respecter of status, education or anyone’s political standing in the society, disclosed that even "the traditional birth attendant that probably works in area where there is no doctor and successfully delivers hundreds of babies can be awarded and recognized by the president. So is a sports man who is illiterate, but a good footballer, wrestler or a boxer and projects the image of this country globally and wins laurels and bring us to lime light could be recognized in this honours series.
"Also in the case of the military an officer, a corporal or even a private soldier could be given a medal that probably a colonel or general might not have for show of gallantry and that guided the National Honours".
Explaining why Alhaji Aliko Dangote was given the prestigious GCON usually reserved for the nation’s Vice President, President of the Senate, and the Chief Justice of the Federation, he said government gave the award to Dangote because of his contributions to national development.
"So the position you occupy does not give an automatic award except for some positions like the GCFR which is given to anybody who becomes the President of this country or the GCON given to anybody who becomes the vice president or the head of the National Assembly or the head of the Judiciary. These are given by virtue of their positions, but others are given by virtue of what you have contributed to the society not necessarily because of the office you hold. You can see today that we have recognized Dangote with the highest on the GCON series because we must recognize enterprise.
"So you can also see that some of our traditional rulers by virtue of their hard work done by their ancestors. For you to be recognized and honuored we will want to see what you have used that position to achieve for us. Do you use that office to destroy us or do you use it for the development of your domain. So also is a youth leader, a woman leader or an elder do you use that position to bring development and peace to your people at your community level, local government level, state level and the national level or use it to bring crisis or destruction to our people.
"This is what guides the selection of this award and that is why you see a mixed group of people being recognized. This is a man who has been able to employ thousands of Nigerians as we heard it from the citation. Today I am having the GCFR the highest in the land by virtue of the fact that I am the President of this country, but if I am not the president another person must be the President of Nigeria, but if Aliko did not have that business acumen to build that empire probably we wouldn’t have had somebody to employ thousands of Nigerians".
In his welcome address, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, stated that last year’s event that could hold because of preparation for 2011 general elections.
He attributed the large number of awardees to the cancellation of the 2010 event, even as he announced the shortage of medal which he attributed to the large number of recipients of the award this year.
He however assured that those who could not get the Certificates and Medals at yesterday’s event will receive them in the next one week.
Those honoured, he said, represent a few of the many qualified Nigerians, who were rigorously screened.
"The criteria for the award include their leading contributions in their various field of endeavour and patriotism to the nation," he said.
Source: Daily Champion, 15th November 2011.