President Bola Tinubu has conferred 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, Tajudeen Abbas. This development follows a week of controversy and public debate between Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives over the Speaker’s eligibility for such a prestigious honour.
The announcement, made in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, late Friday night, revealed that Tinubu had reconsidered Abbas’s initial recognition as a Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) following pressure from the House. The statement, titled ‘President Tinubu confers GCON on House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas’, clarified the rationale behind the President’s decision to elevate the Speaker.
In his October 1st Independence Anniversary Speech marking Nigeria’s 64th year of independence, Tinubu had conferred the honour of CFR on both the Speaker and the Deputy Senate President. However, this sparked immediate controversy, with members of the House of Representatives demanding that the Speaker be awarded a higher distinction in line with the traditional National Order of Precedence.
President Tinubu, according to Onanuga, was persuaded by the arguments from the House of Representatives. “President Tinubu was persuaded by the House of Representatives’ position and has decided to remedy the historical error and oversight,” Onanuga stated, announcing the upgrade of the Speaker’s honour from CFR to GCON.
The elevation of Abbas comes as tensions simmer between Nigeria’s legislative chambers, with accusations of favouritism and procedural oversight dominating recent debates. Nonetheless, the presidency has confirmed that Abbas, alongside the Senate President and other principal officers of the National Assembly, will be officially decorated with their honours in a formal ceremony.
As Nigeria’s political landscape remains highly charged, the decision to elevate the Speaker reflects the intricate balance of power between the executive and legislative arms, while also highlighting the continuing battle for influence and recognition within the National Assembly.
