The countrys most prestigious honours awards was marred by a shortage of medals and certificates in Abuja on Monday.The event, which held amid tight security at the International Conference Center in Abuja, saw President Goodluck Jonathan conferring various classes of national honours on 355 Nigerians.Our correspondent reports that as a result of the shortages, many of the honourees were unable to get their medals and certificates as is the tradition.In his bid to defend the shortages, the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, 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.The SGF explained that the award ceremony could not hold in 2010 because of preparations for the 2011 general elections.However, our correspondent reports that although the combined awards shot up the total number of awardees for this year, the number wasnt extraordinary as government also had two years to plan. In 2006, for example, 263 Nigerians received awards during the national honours event without any hiccups.In his address, Jonathan skipped the shortage but focused on the criticisms that trailed the announcement of the nominees for the awards.In a move that suggested that he acknowledged the flaws in the selection process, Jonathan disclosed that he had already directed the government agencies involved to improve on the process.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, he said.The President canvassed a situation in which the awards could be received by all classes of Nigerians, including the lowly placed members of the society.He said, 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 he does, has done it with much dedication and impacted society significantly can be honoured by the President.Stating that most Nigerians have no knowledge of the criteria employed for the selection of people for National Honours, Jonathan noted that even the Nobel Peace Prize was often met with criticisms.He said, 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 (members of the) committee that will select those who will receive that award are among our eggheads.But for the National Honours, the 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 on the size of certificate you have and it does not even depend on the status you have in the society.The traditional birth attendant that works in an area where there is no doctor and successfully delivers hundreds of babies can be awarded and recognised by the President.So is a sportsman who is illiterate, but a good footballer, a wrestler or a boxer that projects the image of this country globally and wins laurels and bring us to limelight, he or she 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 a show of gallantry.The President also explained why Alhaji Aliko Dangote was given the second highest award in the land, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.He said Dangote got the award because of his contributions to national development. The GCON is usually awarded to the nations Vice President, President of the Senate, and the Chief Justice of the Federation.Jonathan said, The position you occupy does not give an automatic award except for some positions like the GCFR which is given to anyone 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 they have contributed to the society, not necessarily because of the office you hold.You can see today that we have recognised Aliko Dangote with the highest on the GCON series because we must recognise enterprise.Our correspondent reports that as usual, this years award is dominated by politicians, military and paramilitary officers, and top civil servants who constitute over 75 per cent of the awardees. The remaining 25 per cent are from the private sector.The 335 Nigerians who received the awards on Monday brought to 3,924, the total number of recipients of the awards since it was instituted in 1963.Of the 335, one person received the award of GCON; 65 people were conferred with the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger; 38 persons received the award of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic; 74 Nigerians received the award of Officer of Federal Republic; 69 were conferred with the honour of Member of the Officer of the Order Federal Republic; 71 people received the award of the Order of the Niger; while 28 others were conferred with the honour of Member of the Order of the Niger. Also, two persons received the First Class Federal Republic Medal, while three others got the Second Class Federal Republic Medal.Top on the list of the recipients are Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who got the highest honour of the day as the sole recipient of the GCON award; the Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who was among the 38 recipients of the CFR honour; and the governors of Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Edo, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Rivers and Jigawa states, who were all conferred with the national honour of CON.
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