Reps Label Tinubu’s National Honour on Speaker As “Discriminatory”
Plans by President Bola Tinubu to confer on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) has been met with objection by members of the House.
The Reps view this honour as a discrimination, stating that it is one they will reject outright.
The lawmakers of the lower chamber made this decision during a plenary session on Wednesday.
This comes after Philip Agbese, a lawmaker from Benue state, sponsored a motion of urgent public importance, stressing that the National Assembly is constitutionally established as a bicameral legislature with two equal chambers consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
According to the angered lawmakers, the honour intended to be conferred on by the President is beneath the honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) set to be conferred upon Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Read Also: Fatal Collision on Lagos-Badagry Road Leaves 10 Dead, Including Children
The two chambers of the National Assembly, the Reps argue, are equal and as such, conferring a higher honour of the Senate President, and a lower honour on the Reps Speaker is discriminatory.
The lawmakers also pointed out that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, is beneath the Speaker in hierarchy. Awarding her the GCON honour is, in their view, a clear case of discrimination.
In their argument for Speaker Abbas to receive the same GCON honour, they noted that business magnate, Aliko Dangote, and ex-Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, hold the GCON honour despite haven never served as elected government officials.
To this effect, an ad hoc committee has been setup by the Reps to work with the Ministry of Special Duties in ensuring their demands are looked at.
