Same old tune

The awards ceremony, which in the past usually takes place at the end of the year, was this year shifted in order for the occasion to be part of events to mark Nigeria’s National Day. This year’s list of recipients was a slight departure from the norm, when loyalist politicians and cronies of government officials […]

The awards ceremony, which in the past usually takes place at the end of the year, was this year shifted in order for the occasion to be part of events to mark Nigeria’s National Day. This year’s list of recipients was a slight departure from the norm, when loyalist politicians and cronies of government officials often benefitted the most.
 The concept of bestowing national honours on individuals is a noble cause that should be done with the sanctity and solemnity it requires. The 2014 list contains recipients that are worthy for such recognition, like athletes and sports people, those involved in show business, and few others who have excelled in their chosen fields. But the preponderance of government officials is unmistakable. Mercifully though, there were no awards for Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) categories, two of the highest national awards. The government may have taken the scathing criticism that trailed the 2012 version of the list to heart. But the one-year interregnum has done precious little to ensure a more thorough selection process was done this time around.  
As has been argued in the past, the greater number of recipients of national recognition should be non-government persons who, by dint of hard work, contribute in their own ways to national development; not government officials for merely doing the job they were elected or appointed and paid from public coffers to do. Such recognitions are supposed to be for service above and beyond the call of duty. Generally, very few honours should be given to those connected with government, where honourable service should be a normal expectation. It is ludicrous that in Nigeria, a national honour is automatically bestowed on a new occupant of government office, like president, vice president, presiding officers of the National Assembly, and service chiefs, even before they begin work. This process erodes the credibility a truly national honour should be invested with.  Service to the nation should be assessed after one’s duty is done, not before. In the current climate, it is impossible to distinguish between those who served meritoriously, and honourably, and those who failed.   A recent case is that of a former Inspector General of Police who was awarded Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) upon taking office only to end up in jail on multiple corruption charges.  
Yesterday’s recipients include the 1959 designer of the National Flag, Mr Michel Akinkumi, who, in addition to the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) was named the president’s special adviser for life.  There are many who would raise eyebrows with this peremptory move; but at 78 years old and retired from public service, it’s Mr Akinkumi’s lucky break.  There also was a cab driver who was honoured because he found 18 million naira that a passenger forgot and returned it. Jonathan also honoured the presidential cook, who it was said had served more than seven heads of state, and a traffic warden. The stories and experiences of these recipients are the stuff that the national character of hard work, integrity and selflessness is built on.   The selection committee’s pandering to the elitist, and ignoring the large number of credible youths, academics, civil society persons, women, farmers, disabled but patriotic citizens, etc, and members of opposition political parties devalues the essence of National Awards. The committee should do more to restore respectability to the process by abandoning, or asking the National Assembly to expunge, portions of the honours law that make it mandatory for public officers to be conferred with titles upon taking office.  It also makes a mockery of the process when loyalty to office holders in the only criterion, like when a deputy governor is honoured but the boss the governor is not.