In a significant development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has upgraded the national honour of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, from Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) to the prestigious Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the nation’s second-highest honour. This decision was made in response to a debate in the House of Representatives, which advocated for a higher recognition of the Speaker’s contributions.

The President’s announcement came shortly after his 64th Independence Anniversary speech on October 1st, during which he initially conferred the CFR honour on both the Speaker and the Deputy Senate President. However, calls from lawmakers for a higher honour, reflecting the Speaker’s office and historical precedence, prompted President Tinubu to reconsider the award.

Acknowledging the oversight, President Tinubu stated that the upgrade to GCON is in line with the National Order of Precedence, which dictates that the Speaker of the House deserves this elevated distinction. This correction was described as a remedy to what the President termed a “historical error” in the conferment of national honours.

In addition to Speaker Abbas, the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria are set to be formally decorated with their new honours at a future ceremony. The GCON award, traditionally reserved for individuals in top government positions, signifies high national recognition and is second only to the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), usually conferred on heads of state.

The Speaker expressed his gratitude for the honour and reaffirmed his commitment to serving the Nigerian people and strengthening the legislative process. This moment marks a notable shift in how the roles of key government officials are recognized and reflects President Tinubu’s openness to addressing issues raised by the National Assembly.