In a remarkable show of solidarity, the House of Representatives has pledged to give up 50% of their salaries for six months to help address the hunger crisis plaguing the country.
This decision was made during a plenary session on Thursday, presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
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The motion was introduced and amended by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who urged his colleagues to make this significant sacrifice. During his turn to speak, Kalu passionately appealed for their support in this endeavor, emphasizing the need for collective action in the face of the nation’s challenges.
“This government is doing its best, but one year is not enough to address the challenges facing this country. I want to plead with our colleagues to sacrifice 50 percent for a period of six months,” Kalu stated. Highlighting the urgency and importance of the situation, he added, “Our salary is N600,000 a month. I want to plead that we let go of 50 percent of our salary for a period of six months.”
With each member of the House of Representatives contributing N300,000 from their monthly salaries, the legislative chamber will be able to amass a substantial sum to support government efforts to tackle hunger. This initiative is expected to contribute N108 million monthly and a total of N648 million over the six-month period.
House of Representatives denies external Influence in committee appointments
Earlier, Daily News 24 reported that following the election of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, speculation has arisen concerning the appointment of chairpersons and vice chairpersons for the standing committees in the House of Representatives.
The standing committees, responsible for establishing policies and providing legislative oversight, are highly coveted positions, attracting both internal and external interests, as per the rumors.
However, the House of Representatives has issued a statement vehemently denying any evidence to support the claims that Speaker Abbas and other House leaders succumbed to outside pressure or influence in the committee appointments.
