President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that the screening and selection of nominees for this year’s national honours award followed established broad criteria in accordance with the National Honours Act CAP.N43 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Buhari stated this when he conferred the country’s national honours on 450 Nigerians and non-Nigerians, who have distinguished themselves in the service of the nation and humanity, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
He said citizens who contribute to national development deserve to be encouraged and appreciated.
The president commended the National Awards Committee headed by the the Emir of Lafia and retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Sidi Bage Muhammad, for a great and patriotic duty by diligently going through over 5,000 submissions and coming up with the recommendations.
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 of 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.
Noting that the screening and selection of nominees for this year’s followed established broad criteria, in accordance with the National Honours Act CAP.N43 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the president listed the criteria to include “consistent and meaningful participation in community and/or national development; rendering unsolicited, selfless and philanthropic services to humanity; outstanding sacrifice in the defence of a cause popularly adjudged to be positive, relevant and beneficial to the nation and community.’’