Reps to forgo 50% of their salaries for 6 months to support hardship

Thursday, July 18, 2024 - The House of Representatives on Thursday, July 18, resolved to support the Federal Government with N648 million for six months by cutting down their salaries by 50% to support food sufficiency across the country and to address the high cost of food.

 This followed the adoption of an amendment to a motion’s prayer moved by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on the need for lawmakers to sacrifice 50% of their N600,000 monthly salaries to support Nigerians given the hardship in the land.

 Kalu’s amended prayer was to a motion by Rep Isiaka Ayokunle calling on proponents of the planned nationwide protests to jettison the idea and engage the government in dialogue. 

 The Deputy Speaker said the salary cut is to be used to support the federal government’s efforts to address the rising cost of foodstuffs in the country with the view to ameliorating the hardship Nigerians are going through.

 By slashing their salaries by 50%, the 360 lawmakers will be sacrificing N108 million monthly for the next six months. 

 The motion was adopted and referred to the committees on Humanitarian Affairs, Finance and Budget for compliance.