The Nigerian House of Representatives has announced plans to present President Bola Tinubu with a sum of N704.91 million on December 31, 2024. The funds are intended to alleviate the economic hardships faced by underprivileged Nigerians due to the removal of the petrol subsidy.
This initiative stems from a July 18 resolution where lawmakers agreed to forfeit 50% of their salaries for six months to address the challenges faced by ordinary citizens.
The motion was moved by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu during a plenary session, citing the urgency to tackle hunger and economic distress in the country.
“This government is doing its best, but one year is insufficient to confront the difficulties facing this country,” Kalu stated while advocating for the pay cut. “Our monthly compensation is N600,000. I’d like to request that we forego 50% of our salaries for six months.”
Speaking during Thursday’s plenary, Speaker Tajudeen Abba praised the House members for their commitment. “If you recall, about five months ago, we decided to pay half of our salaries to address the pressing needs of the Nigerian people,” he said. “I am pleased to inform you that we have thus far contributed N704,907,578.82.”
He further revealed that the funds would be presented to President Tinubu at the end of the year, emphasizing that the money would be exclusively used to support vulnerable Nigerians. “The contributions you made highlight the steadfastness and dedication of members to addressing the critical needs of Nigerians,” the Speaker added.
