The House of Representatives has turned down the planned award of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) to Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House, during a session on Wednesday.
The lawmakers expressed disapproval, arguing that it is unfair for President Bola Tinubu to grant the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, while only awarding a CFR to Abbas.
The matter came up in response to a motion of urgent public importance brought forward by Philip Agbese, a representative from Benue State. The House members backed the motion, demanding that the Speaker be given the same GCON award as the Senate President.
In his speech for Independence Day, President Tinubu had outlined that Akpabio and Kekere-Ekun would be awarded the GCON, while Abbas and Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President, would receive the CFR. Ben Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was scheduled to receive the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). However, the specific date for these honours has yet to be announced.
This would be the first time a Speaker of the House has not been awarded the GCON, a title typically reserved for high-ranking officials.
Lawmakers Call the Award Discriminatory
Philip Agbese argued during the motion that the Nigerian National Assembly is made up of two chambers – the Senate and the House of Representatives – both of which are equal in status according to the Constitution. He said that giving the Senate President a higher honour than the Speaker was unfair and implied that the House of Representatives is inferior to the Senate.
Agbese emphasised that the practice of referring to the Senate as the “upper chamber” and the House of Representatives as the “lower chamber” is misleading and damaging to the House’s status. He pointed out that awarding a GCON to the Senate President, while giving a lower CFR to the Speaker, continues a tradition of treating the Speaker as subordinate to the Senate President.
The lawmaker also mentioned that even the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who ranks below the Speaker in the official protocol list, was granted the GCON, further highlighting the imbalance.
He reminded the House that both chambers must approve bills for them to become law, showcasing their equal importance in the legislative process. Though the Senate has specific roles, such as confirming presidential appointments, the House of Representatives holds significant authority over financial matters, particularly the national budget.
Contributions from Other Lawmakers
Other lawmakers supported Agbese’s position. Sada Soli from Katsina noted that some individuals, like business magnate Aliko Dangote and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), who never held political office or the Speaker’s position, were honoured with the GCON.
Babajimi Benson, a representative from Lagos, said that demanding the GCON for the Speaker is a step towards correcting an ongoing injustice. He remarked, “Injustice to one is injustice to all. This injustice has lasted too long.”
Oboku Oforji from Bayelsa added that it was heartbreaking to see the Speaker receive a lesser honour than the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
When the motion was put to a vote, it was adopted by a voice vote, with Abbas presiding over the session.
As a result, the House set up a special ad hoc committee, led by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, to engage with the Ministry of Special Duties and ensure that their demand for the Speaker to receive the GCON is considered.
The committee is expected to report back to the House within three days.