ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has conferred the prestigious Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, following objections raised by lawmakers over his initial conferment of a lesser honour.
During his Independence Day speech, Tinubu announced that Abbas would receive the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) honour, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio would be conferred with the GCON.
The announcement stirred controversy, with some members of the House of Representatives arguing that the legislative houses are constitutionally equal and should not be treated differently in terms of national honors.
In response to the concerns raised by lawmakers, the House issued a statement through its spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, clarifying that they sought clarity on the titles rather than rejecting them, as had been portrayed in some media reports.
On Friday, October 4, 2024, a presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, released a statement indicating that President Tinubu had reconsidered the situation.
“President Tinubu was persuaded by the House of Representatives’ position and has decided to remedy the historical error and oversight,” Onanuga said.
He continued, “Thus, he has decided to upgrade the Speaker to GCON from CFR, in accordance with the National Order of Precedence.”
The statement further noted that the Speaker, the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria would be formally decorated with their respective honours at a later date.
This decision is expected to restore parity between the two legislative houses and address the concerns raised by lawmakers regarding the proper recognition of their roles in the country’s governance structure.
