Members of the House of Representatives have unanimously agreed to forfeit half of their salaries for the next six months.
This decision was reached during a plenary session on Thursday, presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
The initiative was proposed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who made an impassioned plea to his colleagues during the session.
“This government is doing its best, but one year is not enough to address the challenges of this country,” Kalu stated. He urged his fellow representatives to make a personal sacrifice for the greater good of the nation.
Each member of the House currently earns a monthly salary of N600,000. With the proposed 50% reduction, they will contribute N300,000 per month to a common fund. This collective effort is expected to generate N108 million monthly, amounting to a substantial N648 million over the six-month period.
The funds raised through this salary sacrifice are intended to be channelled back to the Federal Government to bolster efforts to combat hunger across the nation. This gesture from the lawmakers comes at a crucial time when many citizens are grappling with food insecurity and economic hardships.
The House’s decision demonstrates a commitment to public service and solidarity with the citizens they represent. It remains to be seen how this contribution will be utilised and what impact it will have on the ongoing efforts to alleviate hunger in the country.
As the nation watches, this move by the House of Representatives sets a precedent for other public officials and institutions to consider similar measures in addressing pressing national issues.
