Nigeria’s House of Representatives has demanded to be given equal status with the Senate.
The House also rejected the planned conferment of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas.
This was sequel to the adoption of a Motion on the “Multi-partisan Motion On The Inappropriate Discrimination Against The House Of Representatives And The Presentation Of The Chamber As Inferior To The Senate” moved by Philip Agbese and two hundred and thirty five other Members of the House of Representatives as co-Sponsors.
During plenary, the lawmakers said it was unacceptable for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to confer the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), while reserving CFR for Mr. Abbas.
It would be recalled that in his Independence Day speech, President Tinubu said Akpabio and Kekere-Ekun would be conferred with the GCON, while Abbas and Barau Jibrin, Deputy president of the senate, would get CFR.
The president also said Ben Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, would receive the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
” Aware that the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is constitutionally established as a bicameral legislature comprising two equal chambers – the Senate and the House of Representatives, as stipulated in Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), with both chambers operating within a framework that ensures the legislative independence and equality of each
” Further Aware that Section 47 of the 1999 Constitution provides for the establishment of the National Assembly, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives, each of which plays distinct but complementary roles in the legislative process
” Concerned that there is an ongoing and inappropriate culture of discrimination against the House of Representatives, often portrayed as inferior to the Senate, through language that consistently refers to the Senate as the “upper chamber” and the House of Representatives as a “lower chamber.” This terminology misrepresents the legal status of both chambers and diminishes the House’s standing
” Worried by the growing trend where the President of the Senate is referred to as the “Chairman of the National Assembly,” which inaccurately implies a hierarchical structure between the two chambers, contrary to the Constitution, and undermines the authority of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Neither the the institution nor the Standing Orders of both chambers recognise the position of a Chairman of the National Assemblyal his title has no legal basis and undermines
“Further Concerned that this discriminatory practice was once again evidenced during the recent conferment of National Honours on the leadership of the National Assembly by Mr. President. While expressing our gratitude to Mr. President for recognising and honouring the leadership of the National Assembly, we note that the conferment of the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the President of the Senate and the conferment of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy President of the Senate perpetuates the inappropriate subordination of the Speaker to the President of the Senate
” Notes that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who is lower in protocol ranking than the Speaker of the House of Representatives, was also awarded the title of GCON, further exemplifying this culture of discrimination against the leadership of the House
” Recognises that the Constitution, in promoting a balanced and equal bicameral legislature, clearly provides that bills passed by one chamber must be concurred with by the other in the same form for them to become law, thus affirming the equal status of both chambers as essential components of the legislative process.”
The motion emphasised that while the Constitution assigns specific responsibilities to the Senate, such as confirming certain presidential appointments, it implies greater authority for the House of Representatives over appropriations and the power of the purse.
“These distinct roles are designed to maintain a system of checks and balances within the legislative arm rather than establishing the superiority of one chamber over the other.
” Further Recognises that the House of Representatives and the Senate are two distinct but equal components of the legislative branch, and their leaders – the Speaker and the President of the Senate – are co-heads of this branch, each playing a unique role in advancing legislative functions. This distinct dual leadership is a unique arrangement in our governmental system that must be respected
“Further Notes that the enabling acts establishing institutions under the National Assembly, including the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), the National Assembly Library, and the National Assembly Budget and Research Office(NABRO), clearly reflect the co-leadership status of the Speaker and the President of the Senate, thereby validating the equality of both chambers
” Note that the National Honours Act of 1964 does not explicitly prescribe the conferment of specific honours, such as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) for the President of the Senate or the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and that these distinctions are rooted in customary practice rather than statutory requirement
“Further note that the honour of GCON is not restricted to any particular office or individual but can be awarded to any distinguished Nigerian deemed deserving by the President, as evidenced by the recent conferment of GCON on Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala by former President Muhammadu Buhari, this House acknowledges the flexibility inherent in the National Honours system and the prerogative of the President in the allocation of such distinctions”.
While moving the motion, Mr. Agbese said the national assembly is constitutionally established as a bicameral legislature comprising two equal chambers, the senate and the house of representatives.
The lawmaker said it is discriminatory for the senate president to be conferred with a higher national honour than the speaker.
“There is an ongoing and inappropriate culture of discrimination against the house of representatives, often portrayed as inferior to the senate, through language that consistently refers to the senate as the ‘upper chamber’ and the house of representatives as a ‘lower chamber’. This terminology misrepresents the legal status of both chambers and diminishes the house’s standing,” the legislator explained.
He further said; “We note that the conferment of the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the president of the senate and the conferment of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the speaker of the house of representatives and deputy president of the senate, perpetuates the inappropriate subordination of the speaker to the president of the senate.
“The chief justice of Nigeria, who is lower in protocol ranking than the speaker of the house of representatives, was also awarded the title of GCON, further exemplifying this culture of discrimination against the leadership of the house.
“The constitution, in promoting a balanced and equal bicameral legislature, clearly provides that bills passed by one chamber must be concurred with by the other in the same form for them to become law, thus affirming the equal status of both chambers as essential components of the legislative process.
“While the constitution assigns specific responsibilities to the senate, such as confirming certain presidential appointments, it implies greater authority for the house of representatives over appropriations and the power of the purse.”
Contributing to the motion, the House Leader, Mr. Julius Ihonvbere appealed for the injustice to be corrected saying ” What is good for the goat is also good for the ram.”
Mr. Sada Soli, said that some Nigerians who never occupied elective office or occupied the seat of the speaker were honoured with the GCON.
Similar, Mr. Babajimi Benson from Lagos said the motion calling for the speaker to be honoured with GCON is “putting democracy right”.
“Injustice to one is injustice to all. This injustice has gone on for too long,” Benson said.
For his part, Mr. Oboku Oforji from Bayelsa said it “gives us heartbreak that the speaker is honoured with CFR while CJN is honoured with GCON”.
The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Abbas, the presiding officer.
The Speaker, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas noted the contributions and consequently set up an ad hoc committee to be chaired by the House Leader Mr. Julius Ihonvbere, to interface with the ministry of special duties and ensure their demand is considered.
The committee will report back to the house within three days.
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