Taxi Driver, Traffic Warden, Steward Rewarded with Houses, National Honours

In recognition of their service to their fatherland, an honest taxi driver, a hardworking traffic warden and the chief steward in the presidency who had served nine presidents, were awarded National Honours and given brand new homes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja.

The taxi driver, Mr. Umeh Usuah, was accorded recognition for returning N18 million, a laptop, and other documents to an expatriate who forgot them in his cab. He was conferred with Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), in addition to the house in the FCT.

Police Corporal Solomon Dauda and Mr. Michael Onuh, the steward in the presidency, were each rewarded with homes in Nigeria’s administrative capital and became MONs.

Equally recognised was the designer of the national flag, Pa Michael Akinkunmi, who was rewarded for his efforts more than five decades after he stitched together the green-white-green colours that symbolise Nigeria, with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

The president also directed that Akinkunmi be placed on a salary for life and appointed him as his special assistant.

In his remarks, Jonathan singled out the taxi driver, traffic warden and steward for displaying exemplary dedication in the course of discharging their duties.
In addition, 313 Nigerians, who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields, bagged different National Honours, which were personally conferred on them by the president.

Jonathan also recognised other honourees and congratulated them for their selection by the National Honours Awards Committee (NHAC) and charged them to strive hard to do more for the benefit of the nation.

culled from thisday