Facts about Nigerias National Honours Award...who qualifies?

National honours are a set of orders and decorations conferred on Nigerians and friends of Nigeria every year. They were instituted by thr Nationakl Honours Act 5 1964 during the first republic to honour Nigerians who have rendered services to the benefit of the nation. In decending Order of hierachy, the honours are: - The Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic ( GCFR ) - Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger ( GCON ) - Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic ( CFR ) - Commander of the Order of the Niger ( CON ) - Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic ( OFR ) - Officer of the Order of the Niger ( OON ) - Member of the Order of the federal Republic ( MFR ) - Member of the Order of the Niger ( MON ) The GCFR and GCON are customarily bestowed on the occupants of the office of the president and the vice presidents. The GCON is also bestowed on the office of the chief justice if Nigeria and the president of the senate while the CON is bestowed on the the justices of the Supreme court. Since inauguration, over 4000 recipients have been honoured with different awards with about 313 recent honours were recorded just recently being the largest since inception by president Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja of which 4 of the Awardees clearly stood out due to their services to national development. They were - The designer of the national flag ( pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi) OFR - The Delightful traffic warder corpra Solomon Dauda - The Chief steward who served nine presidents and heads of states since Alhaji Shehh Shagari Mr. Onu Isaac Michael - The Sixty Six year old airport taxi driver who returned 18 milloin naira belonging to an expatriate passenger that forgot the money in a briefcase in his car ( Mr. Ime Isua ) The taxi driver earned himself this award as a result of his dexterity at directing traffic as exhibited by the zeal with which he works. At times he does some accrobatic moves to the admiration of Motorist Pa Miichael Akinkunmi was placed on a lifetime salary as special assissitant to the president whie directing that the police corpra and the steward be given a flat each at the FCT Abuja. These honours are also deserving to sports men and women whi promoted the country in their careers. In commending the federal Government for recongnising and commending hardwork, deligence, patriotism and honesty, many critics have pointed out that giving of awards to some elected and appointed public officials especially those who rendered extraordinary services as to national development as undeserving as they pose it that since they earn salaries and allowances paid with tax payers money it should serve as their reward. It was revealing that thes categories of people often times place advertorials in the media to showcase their achievement which in most cases do not exist. These years list of Awardees is not without such persons as many have wondered what they had contributed to the nations upliftment to merit the highly respected national award, well, some individuals might have find their names amongst the list for political patronage Just as prigrimnage has been used to award party supporters. Theres need for the government to review its list of awardees before honouring them as the law enacting the giving of awards does not include posr humour awards as those who deserve the award are the field wirkers and not the executives. These calls for the committee in charge of recommending awards to the federal government to endeavour to be solely guilded by the Act establishing the awarding if national honours. Its also of note that those honoured with the award and are later involved in acts capable of tarnishing the nations image should be stripped of the honours as these will restore sanity and value on our National awards. God bless Nigeria