In a significant shift from his earlier decision, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has elevated the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to the prestigious title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). This development was announced in a press release signed by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
President Tinubu, during his 64th Independence Anniversary speech on October 1, had conferred the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) title on the Speaker and the Deputy Senate President. This sparked a debate in the House of Representatives, with lawmakers urging the President to reconsider and confer a higher honour on the Speaker, in line with the Speaker’s office and its place in the National Order of Precedence.
Responding to the House's concerns, President Tinubu acknowledged the oversight and agreed to rectify what he termed a “historical error.” By upgrading Speaker Abbas’ honour from CFR to GCON, the President has reaffirmed his commitment to respecting institutional precedence.
Speaker Abbas, along with the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, will be formally decorated with their new honours at a later date.
The announcement marks a notable adjustment in the President’s decision-making and underscores the influence of legislative persuasion on the executive arm.
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