Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The House of Representatives has rejected the conferment of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) national honour on its Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
During Wednesday’s plenary, the lawmakers said it is unacceptable for President Bola Tinubu to confer the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun while reserving CFR for Abbas.
The House of Representatives passed the resolution following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Philip Agbese, from Benue.
In his Independence Day speech, the president had said Akpabio and Kekere-Ekun will be conferred with GCON, while Abbas and Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, will get CFR.
Tinubu also said Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, will receive the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
No Speaker has been conferred with the GCON national honour in the history of Nigeria.
While moving the motion, Agbese said the National Assembly is constitutionally established as a bicameral legislature comprising two equal chambers — the Senate and House of Representatives.
The lawmaker said it is discriminatory for the Senate President to be conferred with a higher national honour than the Speaker.
“There is an ongoing and inappropriate culture of discrimination against the House of Representatives, often portrayed as inferior to the Senate, through language that consistently refers to the Senate as the ‘upper chamber’ and the House of Representatives as a ‘lower chamber.’ This terminology misrepresents the legal status of both chambers and diminishes the house’s standing.
“We note that the conferment of the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the President of the Senate and the conferment of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy President of the Senate, perpetuates the inappropriate subordination of the Speaker to the President of the Senate.
“The Chief Justice of Nigeria, who is lower in protocol ranking than the Speaker of the House of Representatives, was also awarded the title of GCON, further exemplifying this culture of discrimination against the leadership of the house.
“The constitution, in promoting a balanced and equal bicameral legislature, clearly provides that bills passed by one chamber must be concurred with by the other in the same form for them to become law, thus affirming the equal status of both chambers as essential components of the legislative process.
“While the constitution assigns specific responsibilities to the Senate, such as confirming certain presidential appointments, it implies greater authority for the House of Representatives over appropriations and the power of the purse.
“These distinct roles are designed to maintain a system of checks and balances within the legislative arm rather than establishing the superiority of one chamber over the other,” Agbese said.
Contributing to the motion, Sada Soli from Katsina State, said some Nigerians who never occupied elective office or occupied the seat of the Speaker — Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote group; and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) — were honoured with GCON.
Babajimi Benson from Lagos State said the motion calling for theSspeaker to be honoured with GCON is “putting democracy right.”
“Injustice to one is injustice to all. This injustice has gone on for too long,” Benson added.
Oboku Oforji from Bayelsa State said it “gives us heartbreak that the Speaker is honoured with CFR while CJN is honoured with GCON.”
The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Abbas.
Consequently, the lawmakers set up an ad hoc committee to be chaired by House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, to interface with the Ministry of Special Duties and ensure their demand is considered.
The committee was mandated to report back to the house within three days.
Protest as Abia Rep dumps PDP for APC
Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives, Chris Nkwonta, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas announced Nkwonta’s defection on the floor of the green chamber on Wednesday.
Nkwonta represents Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency of Abia State.
The announcement was greeted with cheers from APC legislators
However, Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki, protested the defection.
Citing section 68 of the Constitution, Madaki said a lawmaker can only dump the party that sponsored his election if there is crisis in that party.
His point was ruled out of order by Abbas who said there is crisis in the PDP.
“The information available to me shows there is a faction,” the Speaker said.
Abbas subsequently announced Nkwonta as the chairman of the House Committee on South East Development Commission.
