Hardship: Reps cut salaries by 50% to support Nigerians

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to support 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 high cost of food.
This was just as the lawmakers begged Nigeria’s to exercise more patience with President Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration in addressing challenges and hardship been faced by citizens.
The House further mandated it’s Committees on Appropriation, Humanitarian affairs, Finance and Budget to ensure compliance.
The House resolutions followed the adoption of a motion moved on the floor of the House tittled “An appeal to the proponents of proposed nationwide protest to maintain peace, eschew violence and open the windows for meaningful engagements with the government at all levels in order to address their issues”, by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (APC- Ogun State) during plenary in Abuja.
Moving the motion, Isiaka said though Nigerians have the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest to address their grievances, the house presents with a humble plea, a plea for reason, understanding, and unity in the face of adversity.
According to him, maintaining peace and engaging in constructive dialogue with the government is crucial for the resolution of issues facing the nation.
“This honorable House appeals to the proponents of the proposed nationwide protest in Nigeria to consider a different path, a path of patience, dialogue, and collaboration, prioritize peace and open channels for meaningful engagements with the government at all levels.
“All stakeholders should uphold the principles of democracy, respect human rights, and uphold the rule of law in their actions and engagements; we trust that through peaceful engagement and dialogue, we can collectively work towards building a better and brighter future for Nigeria.
He further admitted that it is undeniable Nigeria is facing significant challenges, challenges that have plagued the nation for far too long, adding that the issues of insecurity, unemployment, and poverty weigh heavily on the hearts of every Nigerian.
“Further aware that the challenges we face are not unique to Nigeria alone. These are issues that countries across the globe grapple with on a daily basis. In a world that is constantly changing and evolving, no nation is immune to the complexities of governance and development. “