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The House of Representatives has praised President Bola Tinubu for rectifying what it termed a “significant historical oversight” by awarding the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. This commendation follows the earlier conferment of a lower national honour on the Speaker, while the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, received the GCON, which led to concerns about parity between the two legislative chambers.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, the legislative body stated that the President’s decision has restored equality between the two chambers of the National Assembly. This action came after the House adopted a motion last week asserting its status and importance in the legislative process.
Speaker Abbas expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for addressing the discrepancies from previous administrations. “I thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for correcting the mistakes made by past administrations that did not conform to the House’s constitutional recognition,” he stated, emphasizing the President’s commitment to justice and fairness.
Abbas further acknowledged that this move underscores the House of Representatives’ equal status with the Senate. “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,” he added.
The House had previously adopted a resolution, initiated by member Philip Agbese and supported by over 249 representatives, urging the President to address the long-standing issue of unequal national honours. The resolution sought to ensure that the Speaker’s recognition aligns with that of the Senate President and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, thereby reinforcing the constitutional principle of equality between the two legislative chambers.
Rotimi reiterated that the appeal for the upgrade was driven by institutional integrity and constitutional propriety, not personal interest. “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,” he stated.
