National Honours List: Presidency Tenders Apology After Major Error

• The presidency has tendered an apology over the mistake of including some living Nigerians in its posthumous National Honours award list
• Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, said the inclusion of some people in the posthumous list was a mistake
• During the celebration of the 2025 Democracy Day, the President conferred the award of National Honours to 102 prominent Nigerians

The Nigerian presidency has tendered an apology over the discrepancies in the names of prominent citizens awarded national honours on June 12, 2025.

A statement from the presidency said it was a mistake to have included the names of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the Afenifere leader, and Dr Edwin Madunagu in the posthumous category honours list on Democracy Day.

In a statement signed by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, it was acknowledged that both individuals are alive and should not have been included in the list of honourees who have passed away.

Errors in President Tinubu's national awards list

The mistake occurred amid the President's efforts to recognise the contributions of pro-democracy activists and national figures to Nigeria's democratic governance.

President Bola Tinubu had announced the list of honorees during his Democracy Day address at the joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12.

The Presidency expressed regret over the oversight, stating that it would make necessary corrections across all State House digital platforms, acknowledging the importance of accuracy in recognising the contributions of individuals.

Pa Reuben Fasoranti and Dr Edwin Madunagu are notable figures in Nigeria, and their inclusion in the posthumous category was likely an administrative error. The Presidency's apology aims to rectify the situation and ensure that the correct information is disseminated.

The Presidency's statement highlights the importance of verifying information before releasing it to the public. The error serves as a reminder of the need for attention to detail in official announcements.

The apology statement shared on behalf of the Nigerian presidency is below:

Tinubu gives awards to several Nigerians

President Tinubu, on 2025 Democracy Day, conferred the National Honour awards on several Nigerians who cut across different fields of life, including politicians, journalists, activists, and civil society.

The awardees included strong pro-democracy advocates and media voices during the agitation for the realisation of the general election on June 12, 1993, and those who championed national development.

The honours included the Grand Commander of the 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 Federal Republic (MFR).

Tinubu announced the awardees while addressing Nigerians during the Democracy Day celebration, during a joint session of the National Assembly on June 12, instead of the usual televised address.

Tinubu urges Wike to remain focused

Legit.ng earlier reported that President Tinubu urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to remain focused on his ministerial assignments.

During the inauguration of the renovated international conference centre, he said the minister should not be distracted by busybodies.

The President stated that Wike remained a 'visionary leader' and believed he had the potential and willpower to transform the capital.

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng