President Bola Tinubu has approved the conferment of 959 national honours and endorsed significant reforms to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force’s funding framework, following back-to-back meetings of the National Council of State and Police Council held on Thursday at the State House, Abuja.
Addressing journalists after the meetings, Dr. Emanso Umobong, Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, announced that Tinubu approved the report of the National Honours Award Committee for 2024 and 2025, along with special awards previously bestowed between January 2025 and now.
According to her, the reconstituted committee—chaired by Justice Sidi Bage since August 2021—screened over 5,000 nominations before selecting 824 recipients for the 2024/2025 awards and 135 special honourees, bringing the total to 959.
“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 service to the nation and humanity,” Umobong stated.
She further disclosed that President Tinubu had already honoured notable individuals in the past year, including Bill Gates for contributions to public health, Uncle Sam Pemu for excellence in journalism, and the Super Falcons and D’Tigress for sporting achievements. Others honoured posthumously include the Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four for their environmental activism, while Professor Mahmood Yakubu, outgoing INEC Chairman, was recognised for his service to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a separate session, the Nigeria Police Council approved major reforms to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF). Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, said the Council ratified proposals to repeal and re-enact the 2019 NPTF Act, removing its six-year sunset clause to make it a permanent agency.
The Council also approved an increase in the fund’s allocation from 0.5% to 1% of the Federation Account and directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to draft an executive bill reflecting all resolutions for submission to the National Assembly.
Geidam said the reforms aim to ensure long-term planning, accountability, and sustainable policing across Nigeria.
