By Abba – Eku Onnyekachukwu
Abuja
Acting Secretary, Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), Mercy Morda has pleaded with the Minister, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter Governmental Affairs (FMSDIGA), Hon Zephaniah Jisalo to use his wealth of parliamentary experience to help improve their poor budgetary allocations so that they can carry out their mandate and be able to maintain the Merit House, just as she described the visit as the first of its kind.
The Acting Secretary made the request at the Minister’s supervisory visit to agencies under the supervision of the Ministry.
Earlier in a remark, the Minister urged NNMA to seek out more Nigerians, home and abroad who are doing well and consider them for merit awards.
He said he had noticed with displeasure that since 1979 that the award was instituted, only 79 persons have so far been conferred with the honours, adding that selection should be expanded to include politicians and even young people who have excelled in different endeavours.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ibiene Roberts noted that the familiarisation visit was to ensure “harmonious coordination of Government policies and projects, particularly those that require cooperation between different tries of Government and Parastatals”. She talked about accountability and transparency in Government business, stressing that resources should be held in trust while projects should be worth the value for money spent.
