The House of Representatives has rejected the proposed conferment of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on its Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, deeming the honor insufficient.
During his nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary, President Bola Tinubu announced that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun would receive the higher national honor of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), while Speaker Abbas was conferred with CFR, among other recipients.
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However, at Wednesday’s plenary, lawmakers expressed displeasure with the decision, calling it “unacceptable” for Akpabio and Kekere-Ekun to receive GCON while Abbas was only awarded CFR.
The resolution followed the adoption of an urgent motion sponsored by Hon. Philip Agbese from Benue State. Agbese and other members argued that Abbas, as Speaker of the House, deserved the same GCON honor as Akpabio and Kekere-Ekun.
In his Independence Day address, President Tinubu had outlined the planned national honors, noting that Abbas and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin would receive CFR, while Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu would be conferred with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
The president, however, did not announce the specific date for the conferment ceremony, though he mentioned that the Federal Government would soon release the full list of honorees.
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