President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved the conferment of 959 national honours and endorsed major reforms to overhaul the funding structure of the Nigeria Police Force during marathon sessions of the National Council of State and the Police Council held at the State House, Abuja.
Speaking with State House correspondents after the meetings, the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, Dr. Emanso Umobong, said the President ratified the National Honours Award Committee report for 2024 and 2025, alongside special categories of awards already conferred since January 2025.
Umobong disclosed that the committee, chaired by Justice Sidi Bage and reconstituted in August 2021, screened over 5,000 nominations before recommending 824 individuals for the 2024/2025 honours, in addition to 135 special awardees, bringing the total to 959 honourees.
“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,” she said.
Umobong added, “After diligent screening and selection by the committee, a total of 824 successful applicants were recommended for the 2024/2025 National Honours and 135 special awards by the President, bringing it to a total of 959 awardees.”
She noted that President Tinubu had, over the past year, also conferred honours on distinguished Nigerians and friends of the country, including Bill Gates for contributions to public health, Uncle Sam Pemu for journalism, and the Super Falcons and D’Tigress for sporting excellence. Others include the Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four, honoured posthumously for environmental justice efforts, and outgoing INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, recognised for his service to Nigeria’s democratic process. The updated honours list will be published soon.
Following the Council of State deliberations, Tinubu presided over the Nigeria Police Council, where members approved sweeping reforms for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund.
In his first briefing to journalists since assuming office in August 2023, Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, said the Council ratified the repeal and re-enactment of the 2019 Police Trust Fund Establishment Act, removing its six-year limit and converting it into a permanent agency.
“The sunset clause of six years in the current Act limits the lifespan of the Nigerian Police Trust Fund and impedes long-term planning, thereby constraining sustainable police reform.
“We also prayed that the Council approve the repeal and re-enactment of the Nigerian Police Transparency Establishment Act 2025 in order to remove the sunset clause and transition it into an agency,” Geidam said.
He confirmed that the Council approved an upward review of the Fund’s statutory allocation from 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent of the Federation Account. The Attorney-General of the Federation has been directed to incorporate all resolutions into an executive bill for transmission to the National Assembly.
Established in 2019, the Police Trust Fund was designed to close funding gaps in policing, supporting training, welfare, technology upgrades and logistics. However, its limited tenure and constrained budget had stalled sustainable reforms.
“All these prayers have been approved without any omission,” Geidam said, noting that the Fund’s transformation into a permanent agency is expected to enhance strategic planning and resource deployment for policing nationwide.
