President Bola Tinubu has recently awarded the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, the nation’s second-highest national honour. This decision was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, in a statement released on Friday night.
This move comes amidst debates and tensions between the Senate and the House of Representatives regarding the Speaker’s eligibility for a higher honour. In his address during the 64th Independence Anniversary on October 1st, President Tinubu granted the Speaker and the Deputy Senate President the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
Following discussions in the House of Representatives urging Tinubu to bestow a higher honour on the Speaker, the President has decided to elevate the Speaker from CFR to GCON, aligning with the National Order of Precedence. The formal decoration of the Speaker, Senate President, other principal National Assembly officers, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria with their new honours will take place at a later date as confirmed by the Presidency.