Posted by By UBONG UKPONG, Abuja on
No fewer than 211 Nigerians and friends of Nigeria have been listed for decoration with National Honours in the New Year. President Umar Musa Yar'Adua will perform the investiture.
No fewer than 211 Nigerians and friends of Nigeria have been listed for decoration with National Honours in the New Year. President Umar Musa Yar'Adua will perform the investiture.
Senate President, David Mark and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Kutigi led the pack with the highest honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), while the Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon. Oladimeji Bankole and former Secretary to the Federal Government are among the 11 persons shortlisted to be honour ed with Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, said, in a statement in Abuja, that the 211 personalities being conferred with the national honours were drawn from a total of 981 persons nominated and submitted to the National Honours Committee
The nominees, the statement said, were approved by President Yar'Adua, after due consultation with the National Council of State (NCS).
Giving assurance on the authenticity of the conferment, the statement said: 'It followed a rigorous process of vetting and screening by the National Honours Award Committee and the security agencies of nominees submitted by state governments, various governmental institutions, eminent persons, the private sector, civil society organizations, professional bodies and the general public."
Explaining further on the choice of those approved for conferment, Kingibe stated that the 211 were most suitable for the year 2007 edition of the most prestigious awards, going by the criteria applied.
The number of recipients and their classes of honour as disclosed by the SGF are, two for GCON), 11 for CFR. Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) has 16 personalities, 24 persons for Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), 84 for Officer of the Order of Niger (OON), while 42 will receive Member of the Federal Republic (MFR). Eighteen persons will bag Member of the Order of Niger (MON), while one and seven persons respectively for the Federal Republic Medals 1st and 2nd Class.