Every year, Nigerian citizens and non-citizens are bestowed national honour awards for their contributions to national development, achievement of incredible feats, philanthropic services, and acts of bravery and gallantry in the course of defending national interest and the protection of lives and properties, to name a few. These awards are conferred on individuals to encourage and appreciate their efforts. In this article, we’ll discuss the types of national honour awards in Nigeria. Keep on reading to find out about the national honour awards in Nigeria.
The types of national honour awards in Nigeria would be discussed below:
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Order of the Federal Republic
The Order of the Federal Republic is one of the two established Orders of Dignity in Nigeria.
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Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR)
The Grand Commander of the Federal Republic is the highest rank of the Order of the Republic and is customarily bestowed on past democratically elected Presidents of Nigeria and former military heads of state.
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Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR)
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Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR)
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Member of the Federal Republic (MFR)
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Order of the Niger
The Order of the Niger is one of the established Orders in Nigeria. This Order comprises four ranks including the Grand Commander of Order of the Niger (GCON), Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), and Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
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Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)
This national award is customarily bestowed on former Vice Presidents, past Chiefs of General Staff, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, as well as the President of the Nigerian Senate in the first year in office.
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Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)
The Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) is customarily awarded to the Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. This award is also awarded to Nigerians who have made immense contributions to national development, among other distinguishable services.
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Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON)
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Member of the Order of the Niger (MON)
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Honours (Armed Forces) Warrant
This type of national honour is awarded to select members of the armed forces comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Air Force, who showed bravery and gallantry before enemies of the Nigerian state, as well as those that have maintained exemplary conduct during the course of their duties. These service medals are only awarded to members of the armed forces who were recommended by their commanding officers.
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The Nigeria Star
The Nigeria Star is an established medal of the armed forces awarded to honour members of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, who demonstrated bravery in the presence of enemies of the Nigerian state. Members of the armed forces that displayed conspicuous acts of self-sacrifice and devotion in times of combat with enemies of Nigeria are also worthy considerations to be awarded Nigeria Star, even in death.
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The River Niger Star
The River Niger Star is awarded to commissioned members of the armed forces who showed bravery during confrontations with enemies of the Nigerian state.
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The River Benue Star
The River Benue Star is specifically awarded to commissioned members of the armed forces that showed gallantry in the course of their duties.
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The Nigeria Eagle
The Nigeria Eagle is awarded to non-commissioned members of the armed forces who have shown a distinguished act of bravery in the presence of an enemy of the state.
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The Distinguished Service Medal
Non-commissioned members of the armed forces who displayed a distinguished act of gallantry during their service to the country are eligible to be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
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The Loyal Service and Good Conduct Medal
The Loyal Service and Good Conduct Medal is awarded to members of the armed forces who have put in extended length of time in service to the nation, as well as maintained good conduct throughout the said period. The duration of service in the armed forces that qualify for this medal is twelve or sixteen years, depending on whether an individual is commissioned or non-commissioned.
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The Forces Service Star
The Forces Service Star medal is awarded to honour members of the armed forces who have completed twelve years of colour service and also maintained exemplary conduct during the said period.
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Honours (Police) Warrant
The honours (police) warrant is a type of national honour award for members of the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigeria Special Constabulary who showed conspicuous acts of gallantry and exemplary conduct in their duties.
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The Nigeria Police Star
The Nigeria Police Star is a medal of the Honour (Police) Warrant that is awarded to members of the Nigeria Police Force who showed gallantry in their duties of protecting lives and properties.
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The Meritorious Service Medal
This medal is awarded to members of the Nigeria Police Force who have shown exemplary conduct and exceptional ability, as well as put in long and devoted service to the force.
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The Special Constabulary Medal
The Special Constabulary Medal is specifically for members of the Nigeria Special Constabulary that have completed continuous service of nine years to the force, without remuneration.
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The Long Service Medal
This medal is awarded to every Senior Police Officer of the Nigeria Police Force that has completed twelve years of continuous service to the force, with an exemplary record of character. Also, a Police Officer below the rank of a Cadet Superintendent of Police without an incident of punishment for twelve years preceding the recommendation of this award is eligible to be awarded the Long Service Medal. Furthermore, members of the Nigeria Police Force with six or fewer punishments during six years before the recommendation of this award, and without more than six punishments throughout the length of their service in the force, are eligible for the Long Service Medal.
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Honours (Prison Services) Warrant
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The Nigeria Prison Service Cross
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The Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
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The Meritorious Service Medal
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Honours (Fire Services) Warrant
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The Nigerian Fire Service Cross
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The Meritorious Service Medal
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The Long Service Medal