President Bola Tinubu has conferred the nation’s second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
The President had in a nationwide broadcast to mark the 64th Independence anniversary of Nigeria on October 1, conferred the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the Speaker and the Deputy Senate President.
This led to a debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday with call on the President to review the pronouncement by giving the Speaker a higher honour.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga on Friday, “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.
“The speaker, the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice of Nigeria will be formally decorated with their new honours later.”