By Mohammed Kandi
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been honoured with the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award.
A statement issued by Manzo Ezekiel, a Senior Information Officer in the agency said NEMA was recognized alongside two other organisations and 15 individuals for its “impressive and timely responses to disasters, as well as the success it has achieved in the promotion of disaster risk reduction in the country.”
It said the awards were presented to the recipients by the Vice President, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, who represented the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the occasion organized by the Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the National Productivity Center.
In his remarks, the President said “since inception, the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award recognizes excellence and hard work in all strata and segments of our society and is quite
devoid of politics. It therefore, deserves the high premium it has earned. I therefore encourage you to continue to keep the highest standard that has been established.
“The fifteen (15) individuals and three (3) Organizations who are this year’s conferees of this distinguished award, have, after rigorous screening, been adjudged exceptionally productive by the National Productivity Order of Merit Award Committee.”
The President congratulated the awardees for their inspirational work and commitment to excellence and reminded them that “This ward places greater obligation on you to give your best to your country. This Administration needs men and women like you to help build a virile and economically developed nation.”
The National Productivity Centre, in an earlier letter of nomination for the award to NEMA, said the agency was selected after a rigorous process and found worthy of the honor. It said the Agency has been
very visible and its impacts effectively felt in crisis situations such as incidences of building collapse, air crash, market fires and flood, amongst several others across the country.
The Agency’s prompt and continuing intervention in the present humanitarian challenges in the North East as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency and other activities such as delivery of humanitarian assistance to sister African countries were also taken into consideration.
Reacting to the award, the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi said “Today’s conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award on NEMA is recognition of our humble contribution to the development of our dear country. It is indeed a call for more dedication towards the national call to service in line with the National Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.”
He expressed gratitude to God Almighty and thanked President Jonathan, the Vice President, Namadi Sambo and the Governing Council of NEMA for their constant support and cooperation to the management and staff of the agency.
Sani Sidi further said it was impressive that an important institution like the National Productivity Center has taken keen interest in the activities and performances of the agencies of government and the private sector and rewards them to propel them to greater heights.
He said: “I am dedicating this award to our teeming stakeholders, too numerous to mention, for supporting us in the onerous task of disaster management in Nigeria.”
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