The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has been awarded Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by the Federal government.
President Bola Ahmed 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 who President Tinubu said were 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 Honors 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, 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.
Another laudable initiative of the Deputy Speaker is the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P) officially unveiled December 29, 2023 in Bende to help preach peace and restore security through non kinetic measures in the South East region.
A dedicated and committed parliamentarian, Kalu has demonstrated patriotism.
He has equally represented the country in many national and international legislative engagements and fora, one of which was the just concluded 12th Annual Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) of the African Union (AU) in Midrand, South Africa where he raised alarm on the effects of climate change.
Kalu eventually got the attention of the august African legislative body to the flood disasters that wrecked havoc in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States for which the Conference rose in solidarity with Nigeria.