President Bola Tinubu has upgraded the national honour he had earlier conferred on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Rather than the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) he had earlier announced, the speaker is now to receive the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
Recall that President Tinubu during his Independence Day address to the nation, announced the nationals honoured conferred on Abbas, Senate President, Chief Justice of the Federation, and Deputy Senate President.
“As is the tradition, the government will soon announce all the beneficiaries of our national honours for 2024.
“The Senate President and the Chief Justice of the Federation have been conferred with the honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
“The deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives have the honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), while the deputy speaker of the House has been awarded Commander of the Order of Niger (CON),” President Tinubu had announced.
The CFR honour on the speaker, however, sparked criticism among members of the House of Representatives in particular.
But a statement issued on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy) said Abbas has now been conferred the nation’s second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.
It observed that this development led to a debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, calling on the President to confer a higher honour on the Speaker.
“President Tinubu was persuaded by the House of Representatives position and has decided to remedy the historical error and oversight.
“Thus, he has decided to upgrade the Speaker to GCON from CFR, in accordance with the National Order of Precedence,” the statement explained.
It informed that the speaker, the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice of Nigeria will be formally decorated with their new honours later.
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