Bill Gates, Mahmood Yakubu, Super Falcons, Ogoni Nine Among Awardees
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday approved the conferment of 959 national honours and sanctioned major reforms to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force’s funding framework.
The approvals were made during marathon meetings of the National Council of State and the Nigeria Police Council held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Briefing State House correspondents after the sessions, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, Emanso Umobong, said the President endorsed the report of the National Honours Award Committee covering 2024 and 2025, alongside special awards already given since January this year.
> “The award of titles of honour and decorations of dignitaries is a yearly event at which the President honours deserving nationals and non-nationals who have distinguished themselves in the service of the nation and humanity,” Umobong said.
She explained that the committee chaired by Justice Sidi Bage screened over 5,000 applications before recommending 824 recipients for national honours and 135 for special awards, bringing the total to 959 honourees.
Among those honoured are Bill Gates for contributions to public health, veteran journalist Uncle Sam Pemu for excellence in journalism, and Super Falcons and D’Tigress for their exploits in sports.
Also listed for recognition are the Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four, honoured posthumously for environmental activism, and outgoing INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, for his decade-long service to Nigeria’s democratic process.
Umobong confirmed that the official list of awardees will be released soon.
Police Council Approves Major Reforms, Increases Funding
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Council approved far-reaching reforms to boost the operational capacity and long-term funding of the Police Force.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, in his first official briefing since assuming office in August 2023, said the Council resolved to repeal and re-enact the 2019 Police Trust Fund Establishment Act, removing the six-year sunset clause that restricted its duration.
> “The sunset clause of six years in the current Act limits the lifespan of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund and impedes long-term planning, thereby constraining sustainable police reform,” Geidam stated.
He added that the Council also approved an upward review of the Police Trust Fund allocation from 0.5 percent to 1 percent of the Federation Account, a move expected to enhance funding for training, welfare, and modern policing equipment.
Geidam disclosed that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been directed to incorporate all the resolutions into a proposed Executive Bill for presentation to the National Assembly.
> “All these prayers have been approved without omission. The Council also directed that the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice input all the approvals of the Council in the proposed Executive Bill,” he added.
Established in 2019, the Police Trust Fund (PTF) was created to bridge funding gaps in the Police through training, welfare, logistics, and technology but has faced setbacks due to its limited tenure and financial constraints.
With the new reforms, the Tinubu administration aims to ensure steady, transparent, and sustainable funding for the Police while repositioning the Force for more effective service delivery.
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