President Bola Tinubu Upgrades House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to GCON Title Following National Debate on Honours

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has honoured the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) award, following a request from members of the House of Representatives.

During his Independence Anniversary speech on October 1, President Tinubu originally granted Abbas and the Deputy Senate President the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award.

 This decision sparked a debate within the House, as members believed that the Speaker deserved a higher recognition given national norms.

In response to the protest, the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, released a statement on Friday, October 4, acknowledging the House's concerns. 

Tinubu recognised the historical oversight and decided to elevate the Speaker's honour to the more prestigious GCON title.

Onanuga stated, “President Tinubu has considered the House of Representatives' position and deemed it fit to upgrade the Speaker to GCON from CFR, aligning with the National Order of Precedence.”

Furthermore, the Senate President, Speaker, other key figures in the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria will receive their new honours in a formal ceremony at a later date.