The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to assist the federal government with N648 million for six months by cutting down their salaries by 50 per cent to support food sufficiency and address the high cost of food in the country.
But the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and civil society organisations, CSOs, such as ActionAid, Yiaga Africa, in a swift reaction, said the problem was not with the salaries of members of the House of Representatives, but their allowances, suggesting the bogus allowances be slashed by half to make meaningful impact in their support efforts.
The lawmakers also begged Nigerians to exercise more patience with President Bola Tinubu’s administration in addressing the challenges and hardships faced by citizens.
The House further mandated its committees on appropriation, humanitarian affairs, finance and budget to ensure compliance.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion moved on the floor of the House by Ibrahim Isiaka (APC- Ogun State) at plenary in Abuja.
Moving the motion, Isiaka said though Nigerians had the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest to address their grievances, the House presented with a humble 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 honourable 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 said.
He admitted further that it was undeniable Nigeria was facing significant challenges that had plagued her for far too long, adding that the issues of insecurity, unemployment, and poverty weighed heavily on the hearts of every Nigerian.
He said: “I am further aware that the challenges we face are not unique to Nigeria alone. These are issues that countries across the globe grapple with daily. In a world that is constantly changing and evolving, no nation is immune to the complexities of governance and development.
“The road to change is not easy, and the journey towards a brighter future is often fraught with obstacles. But we must not lose sight of the incremental steps that have been taken, the reforms that have been implemented, and the strides that have been made towards a more prosperous Nigeria.”
Contributing to the motion, deputy speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, who moved the motion for lawmakers to support the federal government with 50 per cent of their salaries for six months, said protest was no solution to solving the problem of hunger in the country.
He said: “Solution is not found in raising placard, Rome is not built in a day. Let us give support to all policies of government to better the lives of citizens.
