He added that the funds would be handed over to the President Tinubu on December 31, with the aim of ensuring they are used exclusively for vulnerable Nigerians who truly need assistance.
Abuja, Nigeria – The House of Representatives is set to present a sum of N704.91 million to President Bola Tinubu on December 31, 2024.
The fund, which is aimed at alleviating the economic challenges faced by vulnerable Nigerians, represents 50% of lawmakers’ salaries for six months.
The decision to implement the salary cut was made on July 18, following the removal of the petrol subsidy by the Federal Government. The subsidy removal had led to widespread economic hardship across the country.
During Thursday’s plenary session, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, announced that the pledged salary contributions had been fulfilled.
“If you recall, about five months ago, we decided to contribute half of our salaries to address the critical needs of the Nigerian people,” Abbas stated. “I am happy to inform you that so far, we have contributed N704,907,578.82.”
He added that the funds would be handed over to the President Tinubu on December 31, with the aim of ensuring they are used exclusively for vulnerable Nigerians who truly need assistance.
The initiative was proposed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu through a motion presented in July. Kalu called on his colleagues to sacrifice half of their monthly salaries—amounting to N600,000 per member—for six months to address the economic hardship faced by many Nigerians.
“This government is doing its best, but one year is not enough to address the challenges of this country,” Kalu had stated while moving the motion. “I want to plead with our colleagues to sacrifice 50% of our salary for a period of six months.”
The Speaker commended the lawmakers for their dedication and commitment to addressing the needs of Nigerians through this gesture. The contribution is expected to provide relief to those grappling with economic difficulties while demonstrating the House’s solidarity with the citizens during challenging times.
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