Cut your allowances not salaries, Nigerians mock Reps
Story from Uji A. ILIYASU
Reactions have trailed the decision of members of the House of Representatives to slash
their salaries by 50 per cent for six months as part of their solidarity and sacrifice to support (the economic hardship and hunger ordinary Nigerians are going through at the moment.
The decision followed the adoption of an amendment to a motion’s prayer moved by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on the need for lawmakers to sacrifice 50 per cent of their N600,000 monthly salaries to support Nigerians in view of the hardship in the land.
But different reactions have trailed their decision for a salary cut.
Kalu’s amended prayer was to a motion by Rep Isiaka Ayokunle calling on proponents of the planned nationwide protests to jettison the idea and engage the government in dialogue.
READ ALSO: Reps slash salaries by 50% to alleviate nationwide hunger crisis
The deputy Speaker said the salary cut is to be used to support the federal government’s efforts to address rising cost of foodstuffs in the country with the view to ameliorating the hardship Nigerians are going through.
By slashing their salaries by 50 per cent, the 360 lawmakers will be sacrificing N108 million monthly for the next six months.
However, many Nigerians on social media have condemned the move, with some asking the lawmakers to slash their allowances instead, and some calling for the scrapping of constituency project allowances.
Proofreading, editing by Uji A. Iliyasu, Editor at Neptune Prime
