Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said on Saturday that by upgrading the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic to the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated that he is a listening Leader.
The Speaker applauded the President Bola for correcting the mistakes of the past by according the House its constitutional status in coffering the Speaker with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
President Tinubu had during his Independence Day Anniversary address to Nigerians on Tuesday, October 1, announced the conferment of the Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR) on the Speaker and GCON on the President of the Senate and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
However, the House, through a motion by Philip Agbese and 249 others, called on the President to correct the mistake by according the House the same status as the Senate in the conferment of the National Honours.
The House decried the discrimination it had suffered over the years not just regarding the National Honours but also in some quarters where a segment of Nigerians referred to it as the “lower chamber” even when the constitution places both chambers of the National Assembly on the same pedestal.
Following the House resolution, President Tinubu on Friday announced the withdrawal of the CFR honour and conferment of the GCON on the Speaker.
Read Also; FG recognises outstanding young achievers
A statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said: “President Tinubu was persuaded by the House of Representatives position and has decided to remedy the historical error and oversight.
“Thus, he has decided to upgrade the Speaker to GCON from CFR, in accordance with the National Order of Precedence.”
Speaker Abbas, in a press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, said President Tinubu has demonstrated good leadership in his action.
“I thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for correcting the mistakes by past administrations of not according the House its constitutional recognition.
“The President has once again demonstrated his democratic credentials of being a true democrat, an objective and a listening leader.
“With this development, Nigeria and indeed the world, now know that the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the same status as its sister chamber, the Senate, and is treated as such.