President Buhari fails to give out national award for 2 yeas

President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to given out national honours for the past two years to any individual since his inception of office in 2015 contrary to the usual practice of holding the investiture every year.

The President, who assumed office on May 29, 2015, failed to host the investiture in 2015 and 2016.

With only three working days left this year, there are no indications that it can hold in 2017.

The national award, which is instituted annually, has as its objective to recognise and honour citizens and friends of Nigeria who have distinguished themselves in their various endeavours and contributed immensely to the development of the nation.

It is also intended to serve as motivation for all Nigerians to emulate the exemplary conduct and services of those being honoured and inspire them for such national recognition.

The last time the conferment of the awards took place was on September 29, 2014 when former President Goodluck Jonathan conferred different categories of national honours on 313 persons.

The investiture brought to 4,737 the total of the national honours so far conferred on individuals since its inception in 1963.

Jonathan also decorated Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo with the national honour of Grand Commander of the Niger on May 28, 2015, a day before he handed over to Buhari.

Osinbajo, as Acting President, also conferred the GCON on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, shortly after his (Onnoghen’s) inauguration on March 7, 2017.

When contacted on the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, directed our correspondent to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation saddled with the responsibility of organising the investiture.

As of the time of filing this report on Monday, the SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, did not answer the calls made to his mobile neither did he respond to the text message sent to him.

The Office of the SGF had, however, in a 360-page book, ‘Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Prosperity’, which was presented to the public on November 16, attributed its failure to hold the event in 2016 to circumstances beyond its control.

The book is a mid-term scorecard of the present administration authored by the Presidential Media Team.

While the Office of the SGF did not explain why the investiture did not hold in 2015, it claimed in the book that preparation for the 2017 edition was underway.

The event has however not taken place.

“The Office has forwarded to the Presidency a proposal for the commencement of the nomination, screening, selection and investiture for the 2017 National Honours Award.

“The 2016 edition did not take place because of circumstances beyond the office’s control,” the office of the SGF had explained.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )