Labour demands review of criteria of merit awards

The Trade UnionCongress ofNigeria (TUC) has called for a review of the criteria used in the National Merit Awards (NMAs).The labour congress noted that in the time past, qualification for selection into this prestigious and privileged class was purely devoid of sentiments and mediocrity, but was based on merit and proven records in chosen fields or professions with the public acknowledging to the fullest whoever emerged as awardees.The TUC, in a statement jointly signed by its National President, Comrade Peter Esele and the General Secretary, Comrade John Kolawole, said that in recent times, the quality of the award recipients had diminished, thus becoming questionable due to the faulty selection processes that were anchored on sentiments and leading to people who brought misery and poverty on the citizenry easily leading the way as awardees.It stated that 'it is worrisome to note how people with no known social, political or economic standings have capitalised on this to score cheap political points when they turn down offers for awards, which, in the first place, they are not qualified to receive under normal circumstances.'The TUC, therefore, demanded a total review of the criteria used in the selection of awardees, as well as the vesting of the power to appoint awardees on a committee of statesmen proven to be free from tribal, political or religious sentiments or of questionable character.The labour union requested that the NMA should be separated from presidential awards.According to the congress 'We also demand for total reappraisals of the NMA to ascertain if it has met the purpose and essence of the founders or if the exercise has turned to another jamboree in our national life.'TUC also called on the political class not to destroy the true essence that the award is intended to convey on the mere pretence of gaining cheap political point, blackmail and popularity.
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