“Acknowledge Concerns, Revise PMS Price To ₦197,” Nigerians Urge As Tinubu Bows To Pressure From Reps, Confers GCON On Speaker Tajudeen Abbas

The announcement was made through a press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Friday. The statement confirmed: “President Tinubu Confers GCON on House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.”

The decision follows a contentious period during which President Tinubu, in his 64th Independence Anniversary speech on October 1, had initially conferred the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on both the Speaker and the Deputy Senate President. However, this led to intense debates within the House of Representatives, as members argued that the Speaker deserved a higher honour.

On Wednesday, the House formally appealed to the President to upgrade the Speaker’s national recognition, sparking further discussions within the National Assembly.

Responding to the House’s request, Onanuga explained, “President Tinubu was persuaded by the House of Representatives’ position and has decided to correct 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.”

The Presidency also confirmed that Tajudeen Abbas, alongside the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, will be formally decorated with their new honours in a forthcoming ceremony.

This decision highlights President Tinubu’s sensitivity to political sentiments within the legislature and marks a resolution to what had become a divisive issue between the Senate and the House of Representatives.