THE WORKERS and Youth Solidarity Network (WYSN) has called on the Federal Government to halt the proposed merger of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) with the National Honour Award, citing concerns over the dilution of academic excellence and the integrity of the awards.
In a press statement, the coalition of workers and youth organizations strongly criticized the merger, describing it as a move that could undermine the prestige of the NNMA, which recognizes intellectual and academic achievements.
The group warned that combining the awards might lead to partisan considerations overshadowing merit-based recognition.
The NNMA, established by Act No. 53 of 1979 and amended in 1992, is responsible for conferring the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), the country’s highest honor for academic and intellectual contributions.
The award is rigorously assessed by experts in fields such as Science, Medicine, Engineering/Technology, and Humanities. Since its inception over four decades ago, only 79 individuals have received the NNOM, with 39 laureates currently alive.
WYSN emphasized that the NNMA serves as a critical institution for promoting meritocracy and intellectual integrity in Nigeria.
The group urged the government to preserve the award’s distinct identity, arguing that merging it with the broader National Honour Award would erode its significance.
During a stakeholders’ engagement at the National Assembly on May 21, 2025, Acting Secretary of the NNMA, Mr. Mercy Matilda Musa Moro’a, reiterated the agency’s commitment to rewarding excellence for national development.
WYSN referenced the NNMA Act, which mandates the annual conferment of the NNOM by the President on the first Thursday of December.
The network also called on labor organizations, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to join the opposition against the merger.
Comrade Iortyom Douglass Moses, National Secretary of WYSN, affirmed the group’s resolve to advocate for the preservation of academic excellence in Nigeria.
“We stand united in our opposition to this merger and will continue to fight for the integrity of the NNMA,” he stated.
The Federal Government has yet to respond to the demands raised by WYSN. The debate over the merger is expected to intensify as stakeholders await further developments.
