President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved national honours for 959 recipients, including Nigerians and foreign nationals, after presiding over meetings of the National Council of State and the Police Council at the State House, Abuja.

 

 

 

According to Dr. Emanso Umobong, Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, the President endorsed the report of the National Honours Award Committee for 2024 and 2025, as well as special awards already conferred earlier this year, Punch reported.

 

 

 

 

 

Out of over 5,000 nominations screened, 824 individuals were selected for the 2024/2025 National Honours, while 135 others received special presidential awards — bringing the total to 959.

 

 

 

Umobong explained that the annual event recognises citizens and non-citizens who have made significant contributions to Nigeria’s development and humanity.

 

 

 

 

Some of those honoured in the past year include Bill Gates for his work in public health, Uncle Sam Pemu for contributions to journalism, the Super Falcons and D’Tigress for sports excellence, and Professor Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, for his service to Nigeria’s democracy.

 

 

 

The government also honoured the late Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four posthumously for their environmental activism.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, following the Council of State meeting, President Tinubu chaired a Police Council session where major reforms to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) were approved.

 

 

 

The Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, announced that the Council approved the repeal and re-enactment of the 2019 Police Trust Fund Act, removing its six-year limit and making it a permanent agency.

 

 

 

The fund’s allocation was also increased from 0.5% to 1% of the Federation Account to boost training, welfare, and technology acquisition for the police.

 

 

 

Geidam said the Attorney-General of the Federation has been directed to prepare an executive bill reflecting all the approved changes for submission to the National Assembly.