President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the nation’s second-highest honour, to Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
During his speech on the occasion of the 64th Independence Anniversary on October 1, President Tinubu had initially conferred the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) honour upon both the Speaker and the Deputy Senate President.
This decision ignited significant discussions within the House of Representatives on Wednesday, as legislators urged the President to elevate the honour bestowed upon the Speaker.
In a statement released from Abuja over the weekend, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, clarified that President Tinubu was influenced by the House’s recommendations and sought to correct what was seen as a historical oversight.
“Accordingly, he has upgraded the Speaker’s honour from CFR to GCON, in line with the National Order of Precedence,” Onanuga stated.
The announcement further noted that the Speaker, along with the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, will be formally presented with their new honours in the near future.
