The House has expressed concern over an increasing trend where the President of the Senate is being referred to as the ‘Chairman of the National Assembly.’ This term inaccurately suggests a hierarchical relationship between the Senate and the House of Representatives, contradicting the Constitution and diminishing the authority of the Speaker of the House.
Neither the Constitution nor the Standing Orders of both chambers recognize the position of a ‘Chairman of the National Assembly.’ This title lacks legal foundation and undermines the principle of equality between the two chambers.
The House’s concern was highlighted during the recent conferment of national honours on National Assembly leaders by the President. While the House expressed appreciation to the President for recognizing and honoring the leadership, it noted that awarding the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) to the President of the Senate, while granting the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Deputy President of the Senate the title of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), reinforces an inappropriate perception of the Speaker’s subordination to the Senate President.
Additionally, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who ranks lower than the Speaker in the protocol order, was also awarded the GCON title, further highlighting the imbalance in recognition.
Agbese emphasized that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) affirms the equal status of both chambers, as it requires that bills passed by one chamber must be concurred with by the other in the same form to become law. This reinforces the equal standing of the Senate and the House in the legislative process.
Furthermore, the National Honours Act of 1964 does not explicitly prescribe specific honours for the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House. The current distinctions are based on customary practices, not legal requirements.
The House acknowledged that the national honours system offers flexibility, allowing the President to confer distinctions on any deserving Nigerian, as demonstrated by the conferment of GCON on Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In his remarks, Sada Soli, representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency, Katsina State, called on President Bola Tinubu to correct the imbalance, arguing that the Office of the Speaker deserves the GCON title. He pointed out the inconsistency of granting the GCON title to the Chief Justice while the Speaker, fourth in protocol order, receives the CFR.
Babajimi Benson, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, echoed this sentiment, stating that the long-standing disregard for the Office of the Speaker is an institutional error that needs to be addressed. He questioned how the Chief Justice could receive a higher honour than the Speaker, and called for the issue to be investigated by the executive branch.
Etinosa Akarachi, representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Imo State, argued that the House should be treated as equal to the Senate, given the larger number of representatives.
In his ruling, Speaker Abbas, who presided over the session, announced the creation of an ad hoc committee chaired by House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere. The committee is tasked with working with the Presidency to propose amendments to the National Honours Act of 1964 to recognize the Speaker as a co-head of the National Assembly.
The House also urged the committee to ensure that the GCON title is conferred on the Speaker before the formal decoration by the President, securing parity with the President of the Senate. Additionally, the House called on government institutions, officials, and the media to be mindful of language and titles that imply a hierarchy between the Senate and House or their respective leaders.
Lastly, the House directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to ensure that all official communications, orders, and publications from the National Assembly refer to both the Speaker and the President of the Senate as co-heads of the National Assembly going forward.