By Daniel Tyokua
Coalition of non-governmental organisation have urged the federal government to review it list of nominees for 2020/2021 national honours, recently released to accommodate some philanthropists that their names were missing.
The groups under West -Side NGOs, said National merit award is a honour that spurs many to good work, and should be based on merit, especially those who have distinguished themselves in contributing to the country.
Briefing journalists at the weekend, in Abuja, Dr. Caroline Adaji of IBCA Clinic Concepts, said the current list in circulation didn’t contain names of other respective persons who had and are contributing for the well-being of Nigerians and the country at large.
She said most names that are supposed to be on the list are missing, which doesn’t portrays the country in the good light.
According to her, the process was tainted by discrimination and omission of names of notable Nigerians who have made immense philanthropic contributions and clearly demonstrated high levels of patriotism.
“The process lacks equal opportunity to citizens at all levels, more especially those who in one way or the other have positively affected lives of youths and women in all national activities.
“We the CSOs know them and those who have sponsored training and retraining of women and youths through various skills acquisition programmes, balancing gender inequality amongst citizens as well as funding and supporting grassroots development.”
Mr. Ben Ato of EKA Nigeria Limited wondered why the name of someone like Ambassador Fatima Mohammed Goni could not have been conspicuous on the list.
“We are not emphasizing on Ambassador Fatima Goni as a person, no we are talking of so many other Nigerians out there whose chances of being recognized have been hijacked by political cronies, religious and ethnic allies.
“What we are seeing today is a kind of jamboree short of the real national merit award we used to know. What about the posthumous award? We did not see names of activists who fought for the democracy we are enjoying today. People like the Odumakins, the Chima Ubanis, Gani Fawehimi of this world to mention but a few.”
