It’s hard to reconcile what’s happening in Nigeria’s House of Representatives with reality. A motion, signed by 360 members of the House, passionately calls for Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to be awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)—a title higher than the one he’s been given, the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR). The same fervor and enthusiasm with which they’re fighting for Abbas to receive the same title as Senate President Godswill Akpabio is not only ironic, but deeply disturbing.

In a country beset by crises—ranging from rising insecurity, staggering poverty, rampant unemployment, dilapidated infrastructure, and a healthcare system hanging on by a thread—one might expect the nation’s lawmakers to rally around pressing issues. Yet here we are, witnessing 360 elected representatives expend energy, time, and collective focus on a matter as trivial as whether Abbas’s title is grand enough.

The Deafening Silence on Real Issues

Let’s get one thing straight: the House of Representatives has been conspicuously silent on matters that actually affect the citizens they represent. Whether it’s addressing the staggering inflation rate, fuel subsidies that have plunged millions into abject poverty, or the woeful state of healthcare that forces Nigerians to seek medical attention abroad—our so-called representatives have had little to say. But suddenly, when the issue is a national honour, they’re all fired up.

This is the same House of Representatives that has failed to pass meaningful legislation to address insecurity, which has seen bandits, insurgents, and kidnappers terrorize citizens across the country. This is the same House that has done virtually nothing about the unemployment crisis that’s driving Nigeria’s youth into either hopelessness or emigration. We are talking about a legislative body that couldn’t muster half this energy to hold public office holders accountable for the billions siphoned off through corruption, nor have they been vocal about the deteriorating educational system, where students face constant strikes, underfunded institutions, and poor learning environments.

But for a title? For the honour of one of their own? Suddenly, all hands are on deck. Suddenly, 360 signatures appear.

360 Voices for a Title, Zero for the People

How is it that a motion to elevate Speaker Abbas to the rank of GCON received 360 signatures? This may be the only time in recent history that the House of Representatives has exhibited this much unity and determination. Where were these voices when Nigerians cried out over the removal of fuel subsidies that tripled the price of petrol overnight? Where was this unanimity when citizens called for an increase in the minimum wage, as the cost of living soared to unbearable levels?

The hypocrisy is staggering. The House of Representatives, elected to be the voice of the people, has become the voice of entitlement, self-interest, and egotism. These same representatives who are so eager to abolish the “upper chamber and lower chamber” labels to equate themselves with their counterparts in the Senate have seemingly forgotten the very reason they were elected: to represent the people, not themselves.

Have They Forgotten Their Constituencies?

It’s worth mentioning that many members of the House of Representatives rarely, if ever, visit their constituencies. Once elected, they disappear into the cocoon of Abuja’s luxuries, far removed from the realities of the citizens they claim to represent. The roads in their constituencies remain dilapidated, schools are in shambles, and healthcare centers are more like death traps. Yet, their priority remains national honours and titles that do nothing to alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian people.

While many of them wine and dine in the capital, living in opulence and privilege, the people back home are struggling to put food on the table. They struggle to survive in a nation that has failed them—while their representatives focus on the most superficial of matters.

A National Disgrace

It is a national disgrace that the House of Representatives would fight harder for a title than for the basic human rights of Nigerians. Where is the fight for better healthcare? Where is the fight for clean water, for accessible education, for job creation? Instead of tackling Nigeria’s rising debt crisis, instead of pushing for reforms in power generation, or addressing the rampant corruption that bleeds the nation dry, the House of Representatives is fixated on ensuring that their Speaker’s ego remains intact with a title that matches his Senate counterpart.

If only the same zeal was applied to drafting and passing laws that would lift Nigerians out of the mire of economic hardship. If only 360 signatures could be mustered to push forward a bill to reform the electoral process or strengthen anti-corruption laws. But alas, those issues don’t serve the self-interest of the representatives, and thus, they remain on the back burner, overshadowed by this petty fight for prestige.

The Real Honour Nigeria Needs

If the House of Representatives really wants to talk about honour, let’s talk about honouring the Nigerian people. Honour is ensuring that no Nigerian has to worry about basic amenities like food, water, healthcare, and security. Honour is representing the interests of your constituency, not your own. Honour is passing laws that serve the public good, not personal vanity.

If Speaker Tajudeen Abbas wants to wear the GCON title, he should first wear the title of servant of the people. If the House of Representatives wants respect, they should earn it by focusing on the real issues affecting Nigerians, not by clamouring for empty titles that mean nothing to the citizens struggling to survive.

The House of Representatives must realize that Nigerians aren’t interested in their titles. Nigerians are interested in results—in policies and laws that will improve their lives, not the egos of their politicians. Until the House realizes that, every move they make to elevate their own status only further alienates them from the people they were elected to serve. And if they don’t start addressing the real problems soon, they may find themselves with all the titles in the world but no legitimacy in the eyes of the people.