The House of Representatives has rejected the planned conferment of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on its Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, calling it unacceptable in comparison to honors planned for other top officials.
During a plenary session on Wednesday, lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s decision to confer the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, while reserving the lesser CFR for Abbas.
The resolution was passed after a motion of urgent public importance, sponsored by Benue lawmaker Philip Agbese, was adopted.
In his Independence Day broadcast, President Tinubu announced the honors, stating that Abbas and Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President, would receive the CFR, while Akpabio and Kekere-Ekun would be honored with the GCON. Additionally, Ben Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, is set to receive the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
The president did not provide a specific date for the conferments.
