The House of Representatives has resolved to cut members’ salaries by 50 per cent for six months to support President Bola Tinubu’s government in providing succour to Nigerians suffering untold hardships due to Mr Tinubu’s harsh economic policies.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance by Ibrahim Isiaka (APC-Ogun) during a plenary in Abuja on Thursday.
In an amendment to the motion, the deputy speaker of the House Rep, Benjamin Kalu, pleaded with the lawmakers to cut their salaries by 50 per cent for six months.
This he said, was to support the government in providing succour to the citizenry over the hardship, and sequel to the planned August nationwide protest.
Presenting his motion, Mr Isiaka said that Nigerians had the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest to address their grievances.
Mr Isiaka said maintaining peace and engaging in constructive dialogue with the government was crucial for resolving the nation’s issues. He appealed to the proponents of the proposed nationwide protest in Nigeria to consider a different path, a path of patience, dialogue, and collaboration.
“We trust that through peaceful engagement and dialogue, we can collectively work towards building a better and brighter future for Nigeria,” added Mr Isiaka. “The issues of insecurity, unemployment, and poverty weigh heavily on the hearts of every Nigerian. The desire for change, for progress, for a better tomorrow is a sentiment that unites us all.”
The politician said the current challenges were not unique to Nigeria alone, adding that they were issues that countries across the globe grapple with daily.
He added that change would not happen overnight, requiring patience, perseverance, and a commitment to working together towards a common goal.
The parliament said the motion would be communicated to all relevant stakeholders and the general public to promote a peaceful and constructive approach to addressing national issues.
(NAN)