ABUJA – A cross section of Nigerians on Monday commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conferring national honours on ordinary citizens.
They gave the commendation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The president conferred national honours on Cpl Solomon Dauda, a traffic warden, Mr Onuh Isaac, a steward, and Mr Imeh Usuah, a driver, who returned money left by a passenger in his car.
The honour list included the designer of the national flag, Pa Akinwunmi, who was conferred with national honours in addition to being put on a monthly salary, equivalent to that of a special adviser to the president.
Akinkunmi received the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) award, Onuh and Dauda each received the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award, while Osuah was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
Nigerians commended the initiative as it was the first time that such investiture will cut across citizens irrespective of their status unlike in the past when it was restricted to highly placed citizens.
Hajia Hajara Kassimu, a civil servant, told NAN that it was a welcome development as it would go a long way in encouraging Nigerians to put in their best in all they did.
She said that it was a situation of giving honour to whom honour was due as it would reawaken the spirit of Nigerians in a positive way.
“Nigerians are good people but sometimes they tend not to be at their best when they feel that they will not be appreciated.
“With this, there will be a wakeup call on Nigerians to put in their best in all they do,’’ Kassimu said.
Mr Kelvin Chukwudi, a 300 level student of the University of Jos, said that if this continued, the government would witness positive change in the attitudes of the citizens.
“Everyone wants to be appreciated and when that is done others will follow suit.’’
Chukwudi explained that teachers who had been outstanding should also be remembered because without them, a lot of the recipients would not receive the honours.
Mr Wale Aladesanmi, a logistic expert said that although it was a good development, it was more of a political strategy.
According to Aladesanmi, aside from conferring citizens with national honours, the government should do more in empowering the youths in different sectors.
He, however, said that it was a good initiative of the present administration being the first in the history of the country. [eap_ad_1] Dr Abdullahi Adejoh, a medical doctor said that there were lots of people who contributed more to the development of the country in their own little ways when compared to the highly placed personalities.
According to him, people like that should be recoginised from the community level and recommended for national honours
NAN reports that a total of 313 citizens who have contributed to the development and progress of the country received the 2013/2014 honours on Monday.
They comprise 25 who received t.he Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) award and 60 honoured as Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Fifty-four awardees received the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) award, and 63 were decorated as Officers of the Order of the Niger (OON).
The Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) awards went out to 53 and 56 recipients, respectively.
Two of the awardees received the First and Second Class of the Federal Republic Medal honour. (NAN)
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