By Abba – Eku Onnyekachukwu, Abuja
The Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), has pleaded with the Minister of Ministry of Special Duties and Inter Governmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo to use his wealth of parliamentary experience to help improve the agency’s poor budgetary allocations.
The Acting Secretary of NNMA, Mercy Morda, made the request during the Minister’s supervisory visit to agencies under the Ministry.
Morda argued that improved budget would help NNMA effectively carry out its mandate and be able to maintain its signature building in Abuja, the Merit House
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 in the Ministry, 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.
