The House of Representatives has said it’s is not opposed to the conferment of Commander of the Order of Niger (CFR) honour on the Speaker of the House.
The statement issued by deputy spokesman of the House, Rep. Philip Agnese and sponsor of the motion that gave rise to the controversy, explained that the House only canvas that the Speaker ought to have been conferred with Grand Commander of the Niger, given his position – number four in Nigeria superiority ranking.
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Press Statement
Clarification on House Position Regarding the National Honour Conferred on Mr. Speaker and the Status of the House of Representatives
Abuja, FCT | Wednesday, October 2, 2024 – The House of Representatives wishes to clarify recent reports suggesting that it rejected the National Honour conferred on the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, during the 64th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
Intent of the Motion:
The motion, sponsored by Rep. Philip Agbese and co-signed by over 200 members, raised concerns about the longstanding misrepresentation of the House as the “lower chamber” and called for recognition of its equal legal status with the Senate in Nigeria’s bicameral legislature. Members emphasised that both chambers must concur on all Acts of Parliament, affirming that neither chamber is superior or inferior to the other.
National Order of Precedence:
This motion is particularly relevant following Mr. President’s Independence Day speech, which listed the Speaker after the Deputy President of the Senate, and both Presiding Officers conferred with the same honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
Consequently, the motion argued that the Speaker, as the nation’s number four citizen, follows the Vice President and President of the Senate in precedence, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) ranked fifth. As such, members urged for the Speaker to be considered for the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) to reflect his office’s status and position in the National Order of Precedence.
Clarification on Motion Amendment:
The misunderstanding regarding the purported rejection of the honour arose from an amendment proposed by Rep. Anthony Adebayo Adepoju, which was ultimately deemed inappropriate and withdrawn. We must use this opportunity to educate some segments of the media that contributions from Honourable Members during a debate do not constitute House Resolutions. The media must diligently report what the House, in its collective wisdom, adopts as a resolution on any particular issue.
No Rejection of Honour:
It is important to reaffirm that the House did not reject the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) honour conferred on Speaker Abbas by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The House celebrates this prestigious award conferred by Mr. President in exercise of his powers under the National Honours Act.
It serves as a tribute to the Speaker’s distinguished service to the nation and underscores the vital role of the House of Representatives in Nigeria’s development.
We wish to clarify therefore, that this is not a matter for personal advancement of the Speaker, but a multi partisan request for recognition of the institution of the House of Representatives by all stakeholders within the framework of Nigeria’s democratic institutions. The media is urged to accurately report that, in view of the foregoing, the House resolved to respectfully urge the President to consider upgrading the honour to align with the National Order of Precedence.
The House subsequently referred the motion to an Ad Hoc Committee, which will include representatives from the Zonal and Regional Caucuses and will be chaired by the House Leader for further legislative action.
Signed:
Rep. Chief Dr. Philip Agbese
Deputy Spokesman, House of Representatives
