President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, to place the designer of the national flag, Taiwo Akinkunmi, on a lifetime salary of a presidential assistant.

The president gave the directive Monday in Abuja after conferring national honour awards on 313 distinguished Nigerians.

Jonathan also directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Bala Mohammed, to give one flat each to a taxi driver, Umeh Usuah; a traffic warden, Solomon Dauda and the head of the presidential stewards, Onuh Isaac Michael.

The president, who specially recognised Usuah, Dauda and Michael, said their cases had proven wrong those who justify criminality because of poverty.

Usuah bagged Member of the Federal Republic, MFR, for returning N18 million a passenger forgot in his vehicle; while Dauda and Michael bagged Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).

The award of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, CFR, was conferred on 25 recipients, 60 others were conferred with the Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, 54 awardees received the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OFR, award, while 63 others were decorated as Officers of the Order of the Niger, OON.

The Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR, was given to 53 awardees, just as 56 persons were conferred with the award of Member of the Order of the Niger, MON.

Two of the awardees each received the First and Second Class of the Federal Republic Medal.

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Oyegun and the governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, were among the awardees that were absent at the event.