The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, has clarified the National Honours conferred on Presiding Officers of the Senate and House of Representatives.
According to Lado, these honors were given based on established precedents and procedures, not other criteria.
President Tinubu awarded these honors during Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebrations, including Grand Commander of the Order of Niger to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Commander of the Federal Republic to Deputy President of the Senate Senator Barau Jibrin and Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas, and Commander of the Order of Niger to Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu.
Lado stated, “I would like to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, exercising his authority under the National Honours Act, conferred the esteemed title of Commander of the Federal Republic to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas PhD, based on established precedents and it was not meant to undermine the Speaker or the House of Representatives.”
He commended the House of Representatives for seeking clarification regarding the National Honour conferred on the Speaker, emphasizing President Tinubu’s commitment to a harmonious working relationship with the National Assembly.
Lado noted that the House did not reject the honor but sought clarification on the National Order of Precedence, framing it as an institutional issue, not a personal request by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
Lado’s full statement read, “I, however, commend the House of Representatives for its clarification regarding the National Honour conferred on the Speaker by the President during Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebrations.
“I wish to reiterate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to a harmonious working relationship with the National Assembly, given that cooperation between both arms of government is essential to achieving Nigeria’s development objectives.
“It is noteworthy that the House did not reject the honour conferred on the Speaker but rather sought clarification on the National Order of Precedence.
“The motion presented before the House was framed as an institutional issue, not a personal request by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
“The House of Representatives had also clearly stated that it appreciated the honour bestowed on the Speaker by the President and did not reject the title of Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR.
“This Office has acknowledged all the concerns raised by the House and would brief the President accordingly.”
