In a significant move to alleviate the economic hardships caused by the removal of the petrol subsidy, the House of Representatives has announced a donation of N704.91 million to President Bola Tinubu. The funds, which will be handed over on December 31, 2024, are earmarked for the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians who have been most affected by the ongoing economic challenges.
This donation follows a resolution passed on July 18, 2024, when members of the House agreed to reduce their salaries by 50 percent for a period of six months. The move was part of a broader effort to ease the financial burden on ordinary Nigerians, following a motion raised by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
At the time, Kalu urged his colleagues to demonstrate solidarity with the suffering masses, saying, “This government is doing its best, but one year is not enough to address the challenges of this country. I want to plead with our colleagues to sacrifice 50 percent of our salary for a period of six months.” Each legislator’s monthly salary, according to Kalu, stands at N600,000.
On Thursday, Speaker Tajudeen Abba provided an update on the donation during a plenary session, stating, “So far, we have contributed N704,907,578.82. I am happy to inform you that, on December 31, I will lead a delegation of leadership to hand over the money to the President for the exclusive use of the vulnerable Nigerians who really need it.”
The Speaker highlighted the collective commitment of the House members, emphasizing their dedication to addressing the critical needs of Nigerians in these tough times. This move underscores their continued efforts to support the government’s drive to improve the lives of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
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