Section 1: Establishment of the Nigerian National Merit Award

(1) There is hereby established a Nigerian National Merit Award (in this Act referred to as "the Award") to be given to deserving citizens of Nigeria for intellectual and academic attainments that contribute to national endeavours in science, technology, medicine, the humanities, arts and culture and any other field of human endeavour whatsoever.
(2) The Nigerian National Merit Award established by subsection (1) of this section shall -
(a) be an order of dignity;
(b) entitle a recipient to-
(i) use the designation Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) after his name;
(ii) receive a cash prize, a certificate and medal; and
(iii) such other privileges as are enjoyed by recipients of high levels of National Honours.