House Of Representatives Asserts Equality With Senate In National Honours Debate

House Of Representatives Asserts Equality With Senate In National Honours Debate....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The House of Representatives expressed on Wednesday that it should not be viewed as inferior to the Senate, urging the Presidency to recognize its equal status within the National Assembly. This statement came as the House rejected the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) conferred on Speaker Tajudeen Abbas by President Bola Tinubu. Instead, the House demanded that Abbas receive the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), similar to Senate President Godswill Akpabio……CONTINUE READING 

To address this issue, the House directed its relevant committees to work with the Presidency to amend the National Honours Act of 1964. Members characterized the CFR title awarded to the Speaker as demeaning, especially since the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, received the higher GCON title.

During his Independence speech on Tuesday, President Tinubu announced various honours for national leaders. In a plenary session, Deputy Spokesman Philip Agbese moved a motion highlighting the perceived inferiority of the House compared to the Senate, referencing the GCON conferred on the Senate President. He questioned the decision to award a higher honour to the Chief Justice, who ranks lower in protocol than the Speaker.

The lawmakers emphasized that their statements were made in defense of the Office of the Speaker rather than personal grievances against Abbas. The motion, titled “Multi-partisan motion on the inappropriate discrimination against the House of Representatives and the presentation of the chamber as inferior to the Senate,” was adopted.

Agbese, who represents Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency in Benue State, articulated concerns about the terminology used that inaccurately depicts the Senate as the “upper chamber” and the House as the “lower chamber.” He argued that this language undermines the legal status of both chambers and the authority of the Speaker.

He also pointed out that the title of “Chairman of the National Assembly” inaccurately suggests a hierarchical relationship, contrary to the Constitution, which recognizes both chambers as equals. Agbese added that the National Honours Act of 1964 does not specify different honours for each chamber, and these distinctions arise from custom rather than legal requirements.

Further contributions from members underscored the need for equity in recognition. Sada Soli from Katsina State urged the President to rectify the situation, emphasizing that the Office of the Speaker deserves GCON. Babajimi Benson from Lagos criticized the longstanding neglect of the Speaker’s Office and called for an investigation into this institutional oversight.

In his ruling, Speaker Abbas established an ad hoc committee led by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere to collaborate with the Presidency on proposed amendments to the National Honours Act. The committee is tasked with ensuring that the Speaker receives the GCON before the formal award ceremony by the President. The House also called for all governmental communications to recognize both the Speaker and the Senate President as co-heads of the National Assembly, aiming to eliminate any language that suggests a hierarchy between the two chambers.

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