Wednesday, 3rd December, 2025– The House of Representatives has advanced a significant legislative reform aimed at restructuring the process of national recognition with the passage for the Third Reading of a Bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to Repeal National Honours Act, Cap. N43, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Nigerian National Merit Award Act, Cap N122, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Enact the Nigerian National Honours and Merit Award Commission to, among other things, Provide for Establishment of a Commission to Regulate Matters Related to National Honours and Merit Award in Nigeria and for Related Matters (HB. 05).”
Sponsored by the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and Hon. Babajimi Benson, the Bill seeks to overhaul the country’s system of conferring National Honours and Merit Awards by establishing a single, dedicated regulatory body.
Key Highlights of the Bill (HB. 05)
The legislation is primarily designed to address perceived deficiencies in the existing awards system, promoting greater integrity, transparency, and meritocracy.
Establishment of a Single Commission: The Bill proposes the creation of the Nigerian National Honours and Merit Award Commission (Section 1), which will merge the functions of the respective governing boards under the repealed Acts. This move aims to reduce the cost of governance and streamline the process.
Merit-Based Recognition: A core objective is to ensure that National Honours are conferred strictly on a merit-based principle, acknowledging individuals who have made immense and genuine contributions to national development.
New Governing Board: The Commission will be overseen by a Governing Board (Section 2) with a membership structure designed to reflect the federal character of the country.
Divestment Clause: A crucial new provision is contained in Section 7, subsection 3, which explicitly allows for a person to lose or be divested of an honour or award previously conferred upon them if they fall under the disqualified categories outlined in the proposed law. This mechanism addresses concerns about individuals of questionable character retaining national awards.
Consolidated Regulation: The Commission will regulate all matters related to both the National Honours (recognizing contributions in various fields and public service) and the National Merit Awards (recognizing academic and intellectual achievements in science, technology, humanities, etc.).
Rationale for Reform
The current system, governed by the National Honours Act of 1964 and the Nigerian National Merit Award Act of 1992, has been criticized for becoming obsolete and potentially politicized over time.
Eliminating Duplication: The Bill consolidates the administrative functions of two separate governing boards, which proponents argue will improve efficiency.
Upholding Integrity: By introducing a mechanism for stripping awards from individuals whose character has become questionable, the Bill signals the government’s commitment to ensuring that a National Honour remains the highest accolade for service, hard work, honesty, integrity, and excellence.
The Bill, having passed the Third Reading in the House of Representatives, now proceeds to the Senate for further legislative action.
