Tinubu bows to house pressure, confers GCON on Speaker Abbas

President Bola Tinubu has reversed himself on what he called a “historical error and oversight” by conferring the nation’s second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

In his 64th Independence Anniversary Speech on 1 October, President Tinubu had conferred the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the Speaker and the Deputy Senate President, which led to a debate in the House on Wednesday, calling on the President to confer a higher honour on the Speaker.

President Tinubu, according to a release issued on Friday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, was persuaded by the House of Representatives position and has decided to upgrade the Speaker to GCON from CFR, in accordance with the National Order of Precedence, adding that the Speaker, the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice of Nigeria will be formally decorated with their new honours later.

Following the move, the House commended Tinubu for what it described as “addressing a significant historical oversight by conferring the GCON on the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD. This action restores the constitutional parity between both chambers of the National Assembly”.

In a statement on Saturday, the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, quoted the speaker as hailing Tinubu for “correcting the mistakes”.

“I thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for correcting the mistakes of past administrations of not according to the House its constitutional recognition. The President has once again demonstrated his democratic credentials of being a true democrat, an objective, and a listening leader,” Abbas was quoted as saying.

“With this development, Nigeria and indeed the world now know that the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the same status as its sister chamber, the Senate, and is treated as such. I thank the President for heeding the voices of reasoning from the House and other well-meaning Nigerians.”

“I thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for correcting the mistakes by past administrations of not according to the House its constitutional recognition. The President has once again demonstrated his democratic credentials of being a true democrat, an objective, and a listening leader.

“With this development, Nigeria and indeed the world now know that the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the same status as its sister chamber, the Senate, and is treated as such. I thank the President for heeding the voices of reasoning from the House and other well-meaning Nigerians,” Speaker Abbas said.

“The House had earlier passed a resolution, spearheaded by Hon. Philip Agbese and supported by over 249 members, urging the President to remedy the long-standing discrepancy in the conferment of national honours.

“The resolution specifically sought to align the recognition of the Speaker with that of the President of the Senate and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, thereby reinforcing the constitutional principle of equality between the two legislative chambers.

“The House wishes to reaffirm that the appeal was not motivated by personal interest but as a matter of institutional integrity and constitutional propriety. The correction addresses the previous misperception that the House of Representatives was subordinate to the Senate, despite the constitution clearly stipulating both chambers as co-equal in legislative authority.

“Speaker Abbas also extended his congratulations to the 10th House of Representatives for their unity and resolve in ensuring this important rectification. He commended Honourable Members for their steadfast commitment to defending the constitutional standing of the House and for their collective efforts in achieving this historic correction,” it further states.