Hardship: House of Reps to slash salaries by 50% to support Nigerians

The House of Representatives has resolved to slash their salaries by 50% for six months and support the Federal Government with N648 million to address the high cost of food.

Lawmakers made the decision on Thursday, July 18 noting that the primary aim is to support food sufficiency across the country amid biting hardship.

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 moved by Ibrahim Isiaka from Ogun State appealing to proponents of the planned nationwide protests to abandon 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 food in the country with the view to ameliorating the hardship Nigerians are going through.

While making this resolution, the lawmakers also begged Nigerians to exercise more patience with President Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration in addressing challenges and hardships faced by citizens.

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