The House of Representatives on Wednesday witnessed a mild drama during plenary following the announcement of an honorary doctorate awarded to a Kogi lawmaker. The gesture, however, drew an objection from Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a member from Rivers State, who raised concerns about the distinction between earned academic degrees and honorary awards. Recognised to speak by the Deputy Speaker, Abiante said, “There is a clear-cut distinction between Honorary Doctorate degrees and Doctor of Philosophy. Also ReadThe exchange comes amid a long-running national debate over the public and professional use of honorary academic titles, particularly by holders of public office. Wednesday’s incident marks the latest instance of the controversy surfacing within a public institution, with lawmakers now seeking clearer guidelines that recognise honorary awards while preserving the integrity of earned academic qualifications.