THISDAY

FG to Honour COVID-19 Pandemic Heroes with Productivi­ty Award

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The Federal Government of Nigeria said that it will use the platform of this year’s National Productivi­ty Awards to reward and honour those who made sacrifices during the outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic to save lives of Nigerians.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who briefed journalist­s in his office in Abuja on plans for the 2022 National Productivi­ty Order of Merit (NPOM) investitur­e, also said that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved Thursday as the day for the conferment of the awards.

Ngige also said that government is using the opportunit­y to recognise

Nigerians that have distinguis­hed themselves as far as productivi­ty record is concerned.

Apart from honouring COVID-19 heroes, Ngige said the award commitee has through a thorough exercise recommende­d recipients for the 2019 and 2020 awards respective­ly.

On the whole, he said the awardees are made up of 36 individual­s and 10 organisati­ons.

We have confirmed to enrich the scope and content of the award. Thus, in this year, employers of labour will be recognised, the war against COVID-19 Ambassador­s will be honoured.

“Also is a post-humours award for two Nigerians who had done the country proud in their various fields before their demise.”

Among those selected for individual awards are the National Chairman of the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Executive Director of the National Primary HealthCare Developmen­t Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib.

For the category of special COVID19 awards, former Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu; Lagos Commission­er for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi and Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

The following are to recieve special awards for the Employer of Labour; Allen Oyema, Chief Mike Adenuga, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Jim Ovia and Chinedum Anthony Okereke.

Ebola hero, Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh and Babatunde Lawal will recieve post homous awards.

When asked the reason for the inclusion of Senator Abdullahi Adamu among the award recipients, Ngige said that the APC chairman was assessed and confirmed even before his election.

He said that former Nasarawa governor has distinguis­hed himself as an employer of Labour in the agricultur­al sector having operated big food crop farm and poultry farm.

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