Reps Reject CFR Honour for Abbas, Accuse Presidency of Bias

The House of Representatives has expressed strong dissatisfaction over what it described as discriminatory treatment following the conferment of national honours by President Bola Tinubu.

In a motion backed by all 360 lawmakers, the House voiced its discontent with the decision to award Senate President Godswill Akpabio the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), while Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, received a lesser honour—the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).

The lawmakers also noted that the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, received the GCON honour despite being lower in rank than the Speaker.

Arguing that both chambers of the National Assembly are equal, the lawmakers rejected the perception of the Green Chamber as a lower chamber and urged President Tinubu to rectify what they termed an oversight.

The honours were announced by Tinubu during a broadcast marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day Anniversary in Abuja.

In addition to Akpabio’s GCON award, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin was conferred the CFR honour, while Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu received the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).

The House has called on President Tinubu to address the imbalance and accord the Green Chamber the recognition it deserves.