We Are Not Inferior To Senate, As House Protests Discrimination Against Speaker

By Benard Akoma 03/10/24

Superiority contest brews between the two chambers of the national Assembly as the House of representative frowns at the categorization of its own chamber as lower than that of the senate.

A motion, sponsored by Rep. Philip Agbese and co-signed by over 200 members, October 2, 2024, raised concerns about the longstanding misrepresentation of the House as the "lower chamber" and called for recognition of its equal legal status with the Senate in Nigeria’s bicameral legislature.

Evidence of the equality of both chambers, Members emphasized, is that “both chambers must concur on all Acts of Parliament,” affirming that “neither chamber is superior or inferior to the other”

The crux of the controversy stemmed from Mr. President’s Independence Day speech, which listed the Speaker after the Deputy President of the Senate, and both Presiding Officers conferred with the same honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).

Consequently, the House argued that the Speaker, as the nation’s number four citizen, follows the Vice President and President of the Senate in precedence, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) ranked fifth. As such, “members urged for the Speaker to be considered for the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) to reflect his office’s status and position in the National Order of Precedence.”

Though the House reiterates the fact that it never rejected the honour done to the Speaker but it maintains that its protest is to put the record straight.

According to a statement by Hon. Philip Agbese, Reps Deputy Spokesman, “We wish to clarify therefore, that this is not a matter for personal advancement of the Speaker, but a multi partisan request for recognition of the institution of the House of Representatives by all stakeholders within the framework of Nigeria's democratic institutions.”

 The statement calls on the media to accurately report that, saying, “in view of the foregoing, the House resolved to respectfully urge the President to consider upgrading the honour to align with the National Order of Precedence.”