There are indications that the Annual National Merit Award has been put on hold on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari.
It would be recalled that a committee had earlier been set up to come with names of award recipients, however, since its inauguration the committee has been dormant. A source close to the Ministry of Special Duties explained that President Buhari frowned at the manner in which the awards were conferred in the past saying it was not based on merit.
The source disclosed that the awards did not get to those that were really deserving of the award since there were some financial benefits attached to the awards as such those that did not deserve the awards would lobby their way to get conferred with an award. The source further said the awards were conferred on cronies and friends of some influential persons instead of well-deserving citizens.
It would be recalled that in the past the list of recipients was like a roll call of friends and cronies of a sitting President. The suspension of the awards ceremony is purported to be in line with President Buhari’s anti-corruption drive.