President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision not to organize the national honours event since assuming office in 2015 is hinged on the need to confer awards on individuals on the basis of productivity and merit, presidency revealed.
The Federal Government yearly hosts the national honours event, first started in 1963, where the country’s honours such as Grand Commander of the Niger, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, Member of the Order of the Niger, Order of the Niger, among others are conferred on Nigerians.
However, Buhari has not hosted the event since assuming office in 2015, though on June 12, 2018, the retired major general posthumously conferred the GCFR on the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola.
Abiola’s running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, received the GCON, while the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi also got the GCON posthumously.
On the reason the national awards has not held, The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu said Buhari gave priority to productivity and merit awards.
He told The PUNCH, “Every year, these four years (2015-2019), the President has personally hosted the National Productivity Awards and the Nigerian National Merit Awards.
“Please, take note, productivity and merit. These are important priorities.”
