DEPUTY Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Benjamin Kalu has been awarded Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by the Federal Government.
President Bola Tinubu made the disclosure in his national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day in Abuja on Tuesday.
Kalu was honoured alongside the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, whom President Tinubu said was conferred with the honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) respectively and the deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives who similarly were conferred with the honour of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) respectively.
“As is the tradition, the government will soon announce all the beneficiaries of our national honours for 2024.
“The Senate President and the Chief Justice of the Federation have been conferred with the honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). The deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives have the honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), while the deputy speaker of the House has been awarded Commander of the Order of Niger (CON),” President Tinubu declared in his address.
Nigerian National Honours are a set of orders and decorations conferred upon Nigerians and friends of Nigeria every year. They were instituted by the National Honours Act No 5 of 1964, during the First Nigerian Republic, to honour Nigerians who have rendered service to the benefit of the nation.
National Honours are the highest honours or awards that a citizen can receive from his or her country for service to the country.
Since elected deputy Speaker a little over one year ago, Honourable Kalu who primarily represents Bende federal constituency of Abia State in the House has given priority to people-oriented legislations and motions.
One of such landmark bills championed by the Deputy Speaker is the South East Development Commission (SEDC) which has since been signed into law by President Tinubu.