JUST IN: Lawmakers call for GCON honour for speaker Abbas, reject CFR

Members of the House of Representatives, from various political parties, have called for the conferment of the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.

The motion was raised during Wednesday’s plenary session, following concerns that the Speaker was awarded a lesser honour compared to other top officials.

The controversy arose after President Bola Tinubu announced the conferment of national honours in his Independence Day speech.

While the Speaker was awarded the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, received the GCON, a higher honour also given to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

Deputy Spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese, expressed discontent over what he described as the unequal treatment of the House of Representatives in comparison to the Senate.

He pointed out that, according to protocol, the Speaker of the House is ranked 4th, higher than the Chief Justice, who ranks 5th, yet was awarded the higher GCON honour.

Other lawmakers supported Agbese’s motion, emphasizing that their concern was not about Speaker Abbas as an individual but rather about ensuring the proper recognition and respect for the Office of the Speaker.

More details to follow…

(Punch)