National honours: Reps reject award, demand equal recognition with Senate President for Speaker
…Launch ad hoc committee to investigate Minister of Special Duties
…Majority leader advocates for historical corrections in national honours
By Babtunde Opoola, Abuja
In a dramatic display of discontent, members of the 10th House of Representatives have unanimously protested President Bola Tinubu’s decision.
Recall that Tinubu in his 64th independence speech, awarded to award Speaker Tajudeen Abbas the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), while granting the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
This protest unfolded during a plenary session on yesterday, where lawmakers voiced their concerns over what they termed an “inappropriate discrimination” against the House of Representatives.
Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Phillip Agbese, led the charge, arguing that the National Honours Act of 1964 does not specify particular honours for either the Senate President or the Speaker.
He stated, “These distinctions are rooted in customary practice rather than statutory requirement,” emphasising that the GCON can be awarded to any deserving Nigerian.
Lawmakers underscored the importance of treating both chambers of the National Assembly as equals.
Hon. George Ozodinobi expressed disappointment, stating, “I think something that is very constant is change,” urging the president to rectify the situation before finalising the awards.
“I wouldn’t be talking from the standpoint of opposition. But I am indeed saddened that each regime that comes, they keep on repeating what their predecessors did. I think something that is very constant, they say, is change.
“I wouldn’t want to say that the president is a listening president. There are indications to show that he is not. But I am thinking that what he has already pronounced needs to be changed before it is confirmed.
“Because we can’t continue to repeat the mistakes of the past. So he has every opportunity to respect the 360 members of this House who have also fought so hard to bear the responsibility of certain policies of this Government. We are the people that have already tried to calm the entire country down with our number.
“We need to be respected in that form. As other people argued, we are not talking for the person who is sitting as the Speaker. We are talking for the institution,” he added
Referencing Section 47 of the 1999 Constitution, Hon. Dominic Okafor noted that it establishes the National Assembly as comprising both the Senate and the House of Representatives without any implied hierarchy.
Similarly, Hon. Ali Issa asserted, “The section of the constitution did not give any other chamber or mention that a chamber is higher than any other chamber.”
The debate intensified as Hon. Cyril Godwin highlighted a provision in the National Honours Act that limits the number of GCON awards to two per year.
He suggested that the Chief Justice relinquish their honour in favour of the Speaker until the Act is amended.
In a show of unity, Majority Leader Hon. Julius Ihonbvere called for a comprehensive review of the honours system, stating, “We are not just talking about the current occupants of these positions. We are talking about putting things in the right perspective.”
He advocated for equality in recognition between the Speaker and the Senate President, urging the government to address past discrepancies in awards.
Despite the rising tension, Speaker Abbas advocated for a respectful approach, urging members to appeal for change rather than confront the president.
Following his request, a motion to outrightly reject the CFR award was withdrawn.
The House ultimately resolved to form an ad hoc committee, chaired by the House Leader, to investigate the matter further and report back within seven days.
This committee will include zonal caucus leaders and any other relevant members deemed necessary.
