Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the nation’s second-highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), on Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. The announcement follows calls from the House of Representatives, which urged the President to elevate Abbas’s honour after initially awarding him the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in the 64th Independence Anniversary Speech on 1 October.
Following a debate in the House on Wednesday, lawmakers argued for an upgrade to appropriately reflect Abbas’s role and stature. Heeding the request, President Tinubu moved swiftly to rectify what was termed a historical oversight.
The formal decoration ceremony will take place soon, with the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria also receiving their upgraded honours.
