The House of Representatives has raised objections over the disparity in the national honours conferred on its Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the recent national awards announced by President Bola Tinubu.
The House demanded that Abbas should receive the same title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, conferred on Akpabio, instead of the Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR, given to him.
The lawmakers rejected the notion that the House is a “lower chamber” compared to the Senate, stating that the two chambers are equal in status, and their leaders should be treated accordingly.
The deputy spokesperson of the House, Philip Agbese, raised a motion on this issue during Wednesday’s plenary, which was supported by the 359 members of the House.
Agbese argued that the terminology of “upper” and “lower” chambers misrepresents the legal standing of both chambers, stressing that “the House of Representatives is not inferior to the Senate.”
He further noted that the Senate President being referred to as the “Chairman of the National Assembly” has no constitutional basis and undermines the authority of the Speaker.
“Neither the Constitution nor the Standing Orders of both chambers recognise the position of a chairman of the National Assembly. This title has no legal basis and undermines the fundamental principle of bicameral parity,” he explained.
Agbese added, “This discriminatory practice was once again evidenced during the recent conferment of national honours on the leadership of the National Assembly by Mr President.”
“While expressing our gratitude to Mr President for recognising and honouring the leadership of the National Assembly, we note that the conferment of the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on the President of the Senate and the conferment of the Commander of the Federal Republic on the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy President of the Senate perpetuates the inappropriate subordination of the Speaker to the President of the Senate.”
During the session, various lawmakers expressed similar sentiments.
Sada Soli, representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State, noted that it was a “mismatch” for the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to be awarded the GCON, while the Speaker was given a lower honour, despite the Speaker ranking higher in the national protocol order.
“The President is not shy of doing the right thing. The Office of the Speaker deserves the GCON. It is a mismatch for the CJN to be given the title of GCON while the Speaker, the fourth person in the order of protocol, is given the CFR,” he said.
Another lawmaker, Babajimi Benson of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, highlighted that the disparity in honour has persisted for too long, and called on the executive to address this “institutional error.”
He questioned, “How does the CJN get GCON and the Speaker CFR? This lacuna should be investigated by the executive arm of government.”
In response to the widespread support for the motion, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the session, established an ad hoc committee led by House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, to liaise with the Presidency and propose amendments to the National Honours Act of 1964.
The committee’s mandate is to ensure that the Speaker receives the same recognition as the Senate President, and that the title of GCON is conferred on the Speaker before the formal decoration by the President.
The House further directed that all communications and publications from the National Assembly should henceforth refer to both the Speaker and the Senate President as co-heads of the National Assembly to reflect the principle of bicameral equality.
The debate continues as lawmakers await President Tinubu’s response.
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