NATIONAL HONOURS ACT

NATIONAL HONOURS ACT

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

1. Power to provide by warrant for award of honours.

2. Offences.

3. Short title.

NATIONAL HONOURS ACT

An Act to make provisions for the award of National honours by a warrant, issued

by the President, for matters connected therewith.

[1964 No.5.]

[1st October, 1963]

[Commencement.]

1. Power to provide by warrant for award of honours

(1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (4) and (6) of this section, the President may, by warrant, make provision for the award of titles of honour, decorations and dignities (in this Act collectively referred to as “honours”).

[1979 No. 65.]

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by the foregoing sub- section, a warrant under this section may contain provisions-

(a) establishing the honours which may be awarded in pursuance of the warrant and specifying different ranks within each honour;

(b) providing for the precedence to be accorded to different honours and different ranks of honours;

(c) limiting the number of persons who may, from time to time, be admitted to a particular honour or rank of an honour;

(d) specifying the designation which a recipient of an honour or rank of an honour, shall be entitled to use and the abbreviations by which reference may be made to such designation;

(e) prescribing the insignia by which an honour or rank of an honour is to be distinguished

(j) providing for the deprivation of an honour in a case where a recipient conducts himself in a manner which the President considers to be inconsistent with the honour.

(3) A warrant under this section may make different provisions for different circumstances, and may be revoked or varied by a subsequent warrant.

(4) The power to make awards in pursuance of a warrant under this section, shall be exercisable by the President in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

[Cap. C23.]

(5) A warrant under this section may provide that the warrant shall have effect as if it had been made on such date (not being earlier than the day when this Act is deemed to have come into force), as may be specified by the warrant, and an honour for which pro- vision is made by a warrant and which was awarded in accordance with subsection (4) of this section, before the making of the warrant but on or after the date so specified, shall be deemed to have been awarded in pursuance of the warrant.

(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorising provision to be made by warrant with respect to the dignity of a chief.

(7) Notwithstanding subsection (4) of this section, the power to make awards in pursuance of a warrant under this section shall, in so far as it relates to police medals, be exercisable by the Nigeria Police Council.

2. Offences

If a person who is not entitled in pursuance of a warrant under this Act to a particular honour or rank of an honour for which provision is made by the warrant-

(a) uses a designation or abbreviation specified by the warrant in respect of the honour or rank or a description so nearly resembling such a designation or abbreviation as to be likely to deceive; or

(b) wears or otherwise uses any insignia so specified or an emblem so nearly resembling any such insignia as to be likely to deceive; or

(c) by any other means represents himself to be a person who is or was entitled to the honour or rank,

he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a tine not exceeding N100 or both.

3. Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Honours Act.

[1st October, 1963]

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

1. Honours Warrant.

List of Subsidiary Legislation

2. Honours (Armed Forces) Warrant.

3. Honours (police) Warrant.

4. Honours (Prison Services) Warrant.

5. Honours (Fire Services) Warrant.

HONOURS WARRANT

ARRANGEMENT OF ARTICLES

ARTICLE

1. Establishment, etc. of Orders of the Federal Republic and the Niger.

2. Eligibility for appointment to Orders.

3. Mode of appointment to Orders, etc.

4. Insignia.

5. Use of initials.

6. Consequences of promotion in rank.

7. Deprivation.

8. Short title.

HONOURS WARRANT

[L.N. 67 of 1964.]

under section I

[Commencement.]

1. Establishment, etc., of Orders of the Federal Republic and the Niger

(I) There are hereby established two Orders of Dignity which shall be known respectively as the Order of the Federal Republic and the Order of the Niger (and are here- after in this warrant referred to as “the Orders”).

[L.N. 34 of 1979.]

(2) Each of the Orders shall consist of four ranks of which-

(a) the first and highest shall be that of Grand Commander;

(b) the second that of Commander;

(c) the third that of Officer; and

(d) the fourth that of Member of the Order.

(3) Subject to article 2 of this warrant, the numbers of persons appointed to the different ranks of the Orders in any calendar year shall not exceed-

(a) in the case of Grand Commander, two as respects the Order of the Federal Re- public and ten as respects the Order of the Niger;

(b) in the case of Commander, twenty as respects the Order of the Federal Republic and thirty as respects the Order of the Niger;

[L.N. 34 of 1979.]

(c) in the case of Officer, fifty as respects the Order of the Federal Republic and 100 as respects the Order of the Niger; and

(d) in the case of Member, 100 as respects each order.

2. Eligibility for appointment to Orders

(I) Subject to paragraph (2) of this article, a person shall not be eligible for appointment to any rank of an Order unless he is a citizen of Nigeria.

(2) A person other than a citizen of Nigeria shall be eligible for appointment as the honorary holder of any rank of an Order; and appointments made in pursuance of this paragraph shall be disregarded for the purposes of paragraph (3) of the foregoing article.

3. Mode of appointment to Orders, etc.

(I) The President shall by notice in the Federal Gazette signify his intention of appointing a person to a particular rank of an Order.

(2) Subject to the next following paragraph of this article, a person shall be appointed to a particular rank of an Order when he receives from the President in person, at an investiture held for the purpose-

(a) the insignia appropriate for that rank; and

(b) an instrument under the hand of the President and the public seal of the Federation declaring him to be appointed to that rank.

(3) If in the case of any person it appears to the President expedient to dispense with the requirements of paragraph (2) of this article, he may direct that that person shall be appointed to the rank in question in such a manner as may be specified in the direction.

(4) It shall be the duty of the Secretary to the Federal Government or of such other officer as the President may determine, to establish and maintain a register in respect of each Order and to enter in the register particulars of the persons appointed to different ranks of the Order.

4. Insignia

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this article, the insignia of each rank of the Orders shall consist of-

(a) a medal having, on the obverse, the arms of the Federal Republic surmounting the words “For distinguished public service” and upon the exergue the initial letters of the designation of the rank in question of the relevant Order and, on the reverse, a representation of the map of Nigeria surmounting the words “Federal Republic of Nigeria”; and

(b) a ribbon attached to the medal and divided laterally into three equal divisions, of which the middle division shall be white and the others green.

(2) The medal aforesaid shall be-

(a) in the case of the Order of the Federal Republic-

(i) as respects a Grand Commander, of gold, circular, and of a diameter of four inches;

(ii) as respects a Commander, of gold, in the shape of a heart, and measuring three inches at its largest dimension;

(iii) as respects an Officer, of silver, oval, and measuring two inches at its largest dimension; and

(iv) as respects a Member, of bronze, in the shape of a heart, and measuring one and a half inches at its largest dimension;

(b) in the case of the Order of the Niger-

(i) as respects a Grand Commander, of gold, circular, and of a diameter of three and a half inches;

(ii) as respects a Commander, of silver, in the shape of a heart, and measuring two and a half inches at its largest dimension;

(iii) as respects an Officer, of bronze, oval, and measuring two inches at its largest dimension; and

(iv) as respects a Member, of bronze, circular, and of a diameter of one and a half inches.

(3) The ribbon aforesaid shall be of silk and shall be two inches wide in the case of a Grand Commander or Commander of each Order and one inch wide in any other case.

(4) The medal shall be worn suspended by its ribbon-

(a) from the neck of its wearer in the case of a Grand Commander or Commander of each order; and

(b) from the left breast of the outer garment of its wearer in any other case, so however that in the case of an appointment made in pursuance of paragraph (2)

of article 2 of this warrant, the medal may be worn in such other manner as the President may determine.

5. Use of initials

A person appointed to any rank of an Order may use after his name the letters appearing on the exergue of the medal of that rank.

6. Consequences of promotion in rank

A person appointed to any rank of an Order shall-

(a) cease to hold any lower rank of the same Order to which he may previously have been appointed; and

(b) cease to be entitled to use the insignia and initials of any such lower rank; and

(c) forthwith deliver up any such insignia to, or in accordance with the directions of, the Secretary to the Federal Government.

7. Deprivation

(I) If it appears to the President, after such inquiry (if any) as he thinks fit, that the holder of any rank of an Order has conducted himself in a manner inconsistent with the dignity of the Order, the President may by notice in the Federal Gazette deprive him of that rank.

(2) On the publication of such a notice in respect of any person-

(a) the officer charged with the duty of maintaining the register established in pursuance of this warrant in respect of the relevant Order shall forthwith strike the particulars of that person from the register; and .

(b) that person shall forthwith deliver up any insignia of the Order received by him

to, or in accordance with the directions of, the Secretary to the Federal Government.

8. Short title

This Warrant may be cited as the Honours Warrant.

HONOURS (ARMED FORCES) WARRANT

ARRANGEMENT OF ARTICLES

ARTICLE

I. Short title and interpretation.

2. Establishment of medals for armed forces.

3. Eligibility for award of medals.

4. Bars and clasps for additional services.

5. Commanding officer’s recommendation.

ARTICLE

6. Mode of awarding medals, etc.

7. Form of medals, etc.

8. Miniatures and ribbons.

9. Use of initials. 10.Precedence.

1 L Deprivation.

12. Replacement of lost medal.

SCHEDULE

[LN. 27 of 1966.]

HONOURS (ARMED FORCES) WARRANT

under section 1

[20th September, 1965]

[Commencement.]

1. Short title and interpretation

(1) This Warrant may be cited as the Honours (Armed Forces) Warrant.

(2) In this warrant-

“the appropriate service authority”, in relation to a member of any of the armed forces, means the Nigerian Army Council, the Navy Board, or the Nigerian Air Council, according to whichever of the armed forces he is a member;

“the armed forces” means the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force;

“boy’s service” means service in any of the armed forces before attaining the age of eighteen years;

“colour service” means service in any of the armed forces other than service in the reserve within the meaning of the relevant service Act;

“commanding officer” has the same meaning as in the relevant service Act; “commissioned officer” means an officer holding a commission in any of the armed

forces;

“holder”, in relation to a service medal, means a person who has been awarded that medal and has not been deprived of it or who, having been deprived of it, has had it re- stored to him;

“the relevant service Act” means the Armed Forces Act, according to whichever of the armed forces is in question;

“service medal” means any medal established by article 2 of this warrant.

(3) In the case of a ribbon which in pursuance of this warrant is divided laterally into a number of divisions, references in this warrant-

(a) to the first of those divisions is a reference to the division which, when the ribbon is viewed from the front, lies to the left of all the other divisions;

(b) to the second of those divisions is a reference to the division adjacent to the first division, and so on from left to right.

2. Establishment of medals for armed forces

There are hereby established for the armed forces the following medals, namely-

(a) the Nigeria Star;

(b) the River Niger Star;

(c) the River Benue Star;

(d) the Nigeria Eagle;

(e) the Distinguished Service Medal;

if) the Loyal Service and Good Conduct Medal;

(g) the Forces Service Star.

3. Eligibility for award of medals

(1) The Nigeria Star may be awarded to any member of any of the armed forces for

the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy, or for a pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy, or for devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy, and may be awarded posthumously.

(2) The River Niger Star may be awarded to any commissioned officer in any of the armed forces for a distinguished act of bravery in the presence of the enemy.

(3) The River Benue Star may be awarded to any commissioned officer in any of the armed forces for a distinguished act of gallantry in the course of duty.

(4) The Nigeria Eagle may be awarded to any member of any of the armed forces, other than a commissioned officer, for a distinguished act of bravery in the presence of the enemy.

(5) The Distinguished Service Medal may be awarded to any member of any of the armed forces, other than a commissioned officer, for a distinguished act of gallantry in the course of duty.

(6) The Loyal Service and Good Conduct Medal may be awarded to any member of any of the armed forces, other than a commissioned officer, who-

(a) has completed sixteen years’ colour service exclusive of boy’s service;

(b) is a holder of the Forces Service Star; and

(c) has maintained an exemplary record since the award to him of the Forces Service Star

Provided that a commissioned officer who satisfies the above conditions may be awarded the medal if, at the date of his appointment to a commission, he had completed twelve years’ colour service, exclusive of boy’s service.

(7) The Forces Service Star may be awarded to any member of any of the armed forces who has completed twelve years’ colour service, exclusive of boy’s service, and has maintained an exemplary record during that period.

[L.N. 121 of 1966.]

(8) The foregoing provisions of this article shall have effect subject to article 5 of this warrant.

4. Bars and clasps for additional services

(1) If a person to whom a service medal numbered (1), (3), (4) or (5) in article 2 of this warrant has been awarded, subsequently does something which, if he had not been awarded that medal, would have rendered him eligible for it, he may be awarded a bar to be affixed to the ribbon attached to the medal; and an additional bar may be awarded for every additional performance of such services.

(2) If a person to whom the Forces Service Star has been awarded, subsequently completes a further period of twelve years’ colour service (whether beginning with the date of that award or with a later date) during which he has maintained an exemplary record, he may be awarded a clasp to be affixed to the ribbon attached to the medal; and if, having been awarded a clasp, he subsequently completes a third period of twelve years’ colour service (whether beginning with the date of the award of the clasp or with a later date) during which he has maintained an exemplary record, he may be awarded a second clasp to be affixed as aforesaid.

(3) The foregoing provisions of this article shall have effect subject to article 5 of this warrant.

5. Commanding officer’s recommendation

The President shall not award a service medal or any bar or clasp thereto to any per- son unless that person’s commanding officer has recommended him for the award on grounds specified in the recommendation.

6. Mode of awarding medals, etc.

(1) The President shall by notice in the Federal Gazette signify his intention of awarding a person a service medal or a bar or clasp thereto.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this article, a person shall be awarded a service medal or a bar or clasp thereto when he receives the medal, bar or clasp from the President in person at an investiture held for the purpose.

(3) If in the case of any person it appears to the President expedient to dispense with the requirements of paragraph (2) of this article, he may direct that that person shall be awarded the medal, bar or clasp in question in such manner as may be specified in the direction.

(4) It shall be the duty of the Secretary to the Federal Government or of such other officer as the President may determine, to establish and maintain a register in respect of

each service medal and to enter in the register particulars of the persons awarded the medal or any bar or clasp thereto.

7. Form of medals, etc.

(I) The Nigeria Star-

(a) shall be of solid gold of the shape shown in the Schedule of this warrant,

having in the centre the arms of the Federal Republic surrounded by the words “FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA: FOR V ALOUR”, and

(b) shall have attached to it a scarlet ribbon having embroidered thereon in gold a small representation of an eagle.

(2) The River Niger Star-

[Schedule.]

(a) shall be of gold-plated metal of the shape shown in the Schedule of this war-

rant having, in the centre, two crossed swords surmounted by a representation of an eagle, the swords and eagle being surrounded by the words “FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA: FOR BRAVERY”; and

(b) shall have attached to it a ribbon divided laterally into five equal divisions of which the first and fifth shall be red, the second navy blue, and third khaki, and the fourth air-force green.

(3) The River Benue Star-

(a) shall be of silver-plated metal of the shape shown in the Schedule of this war- rant having, in the centre, a representation of a warrior drawing a bow, the representation being surrounded by the words “FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA: FOR GALLANTRY”; and

(b) shall have attached to it a ribbon divided laterally into nine equal divisions of which the first, third, seventh and ninth shall be green, the second and eighth white, the fourth and sixth black, and the fifth red.

(4) The Nigerian Eagle-

(a) shall consist of a circular disc of gold-plated metal of the shape shown in the Schedule of this warrant having, on the obverse, a representation of an eagle surrounded by the words “FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA” and on the reverse, the words “FOR BRA VERY IN ACTION” surrounded by the words “NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES”; and

(b) shall have attached to it a shiny black ribbon.

(5) The Distinguished Service Medal-

(a) shall consist of a circular bronze disc of the shape shown in the Schedule of this warrant having, on the obverse, the arms of the Federal Republic sur- rounded by the words “FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA” and, on the re- verse, the words “FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE” surrounded by the words “NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES”; and

(b) shall have attached to it a ribbon divided laterally into five equal divisions of which the first and fifth shall be blue, the second and fourth black, and the third, red.

(6) The Loyal Service and Good Conduct Medal-

(a) shall consist of a circular disc of silver-plated metal of the shape shown in the Schedule of this warrant having, on the obverse, a representation of the map of Nigeria surrounded by the words “FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA”, and, on the reverse, the words “FOR LOYAL SERVICE AND GOOD CON- DUCT” and surrounding those words the number, rank and name of the holder and the words “NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES”; and

(b) shall have attached to it a ribbon divided laterally into five equal divisions of which the first shall be dark blue, the second and fourth white, the third red and the fifth sky-blue.

(7) The Forces Service Star-

[Schedule.]

(a) shall consist of a circular nickel disc of the shape shown in the Schedule of this warrant having, on the obverse, a five-pointed star surrounded by the words “FOR RECOGNISED SERVICE” and, on the reverse, surrounding a blank central space, the words “FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA”; and

(b) shall have attached to it a ribbon divided laterally into five equal divisions of which the first and fifth shall be blue, the second and fourth green, and the third, white.

(8) Each of the ribbons mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs shall be 11,4 inches wide.

(9) Every service medal shall be worn suspended by its ribbon from the left breast of the outer garment of its wearer.

8. Miniatures and ribbons

The holder of any service medal may, when not wearing the medal itself, wear on the left breast of his outer garment-

(a) a miniature reproduction of the medal (and of any bar or clasp thereto which has been awarded to him) of such size and pattern as may be approved by the President; or

(b) a piece of ribbon of the same width and design as the ribbon attached to the medal, bearing, in the case of a person who has been awarded one or more bars or clasps to the medal, the corresponding number of miniature reproductions of the bar or clasp of such size and pattern as may be approved by the President.

9. Use of initials

The holder of a service medal mentioned in the first column of the following table may use after his name the letters appearing opposite that medal in the second column of that table.

Table

The Nigeria Star …………………………………………………………………………………………… .N.S.

The River Niger Star …………………………………………………………………………………….. R.N.S.

The River Benue Star ……………………………………………………………………………………. ..R.B.S.

The Distinguished Service Medal …………………………………………………………………… .D.S.M.

10. Precedence

In so far as the precedence as between themselves of holders of service medals falls to be determined by reference to their respective service medals-

(a) the holder of a medal mentioned in any paragraph of article 2 of this warrant shall take precedence over the holder of medals mentioned in the following paragraphs of that article; and

(b) as between two persons holding the same medal, the person first awarded that medal shall take precedence over the other.

11. Deprivation

(I) The President may, if the appropriate service authority so recommends-

(a) by notice in the Federal Gazette deprive the holder of any service medal of that medal;

(b) by the like notice restore any service medal to a person who has been deprived thereof in pursuance of this article,

and on the publication of a notice under this paragraph in respect of any person, the officer charged with the duty of maintaining the register established in pursuance of this war-

rant in respect of any medal to which the notice relates, shall forthwith strike out or re- insert the particulars of that person in that register, as the case may require.

(2) On the publication of a notice under paragraph (I) (a) of this article in respect of any person, that person shall forthwith deliver up every medal to which the notice relates, together with its ribbon, to or in accordance with the directions of the Secretary to the Federal Government.

12. Replacement of lost medal

The appropriate service authority may, in a case where the authority is satisfied that a service medal awarded in pursuance of this warrant has been lost or destroyed, recommend that a replacement be issued to the holder, and on such a recommendation, the

President may authorise the issue of a replacement accordingly; but except where the recommendation states that the appropriate service authority is satisfied that the loss or destruction occurred while the holder was on duty or was due to circumstances beyond his control, a replacement shall not be issued until the cost thereof has been met by the holder.

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