Members of the House of Representatives have called on President Bola Tinubu to confer a higher national honour on their Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, expressing dissatisfaction with the current recognition he received. During a plenary session on Wednesday, lawmakers from different political parties unanimously rejected the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) honour given to Abbas, stating that he deserved the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) instead.
The discontent arose after President Tinubu announced the conferment of various national honours in his Independence Day speech. Among the honours, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, was awarded the GCON, while Abbas received the CFR. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was also conferred with the GCON.
During the session, Deputy Spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese, moved a motion of urgent public importance, voicing his displeasure with what he described as the inferior treatment of the House of Representatives compared to the Senate.
“It is unacceptable to treat the House of Representatives as if it were inferior to the Senate,” Agbese said, referring to the fact that Akpabio, ranked third in protocol, was awarded the GCON, while Abbas, ranked fourth, received the CFR.
Agbese questioned why the Speaker was not given the same honour as the Senate President, especially since the Chief Justice of Nigeria, ranked fifth in protocol, received the GCON.
“In the order of protocol, the Speaker is ranked fourth, yet the CJN, who is ranked fifth, was accorded a higher honour. This is not about the individual but the respect due to the Office of the Speaker,” he added.
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Other lawmakers took turns to express their support for Agbese’s motion, emphasizing that their stance was not a personal plea for Abbas but a defense of the dignity and status of the Speaker’s office.
One member stated, “We are not asking for Tajudeen Abbas as a person, but for the Office of the Speaker to be accorded the respect it deserves.”