President Bola Tinubu has conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the nation’s second-highest national honour, on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
The new development was contained in a press statement issued on Friday, October in a statement issued from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday night.
New Telegraph reports that the decision follows heated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, calling on the President to confer a higher honour on the Speaker.
During his 64th Independence Anniversary speech on October 1, President Tinubu had initially conferred the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on both the Speaker and the Deputy Senate President.
The honour sparked discontent within the House of Representatives, leading to calls for the Speaker to receive a higher recognition.
Responding to the growing demands, Onanuga stated, “President Tinubu was persuaded by the House of Representatives’ position and has decided to correct the historical error and oversight.”
The President upgraded the Speaker to GCON, aligning with the National Order of Precedence.
The formal decoration of Abbas, the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria with their new honours will take place soon, according to the Presidency.