The House of Representatives is set to present N704.91 million to President Bola Tinubu on December 31, 2024, aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians affected by the removal of the petrol subsidy.
On July 18, lawmakers agreed to a 50% salary reduction for six months, with the funds designated to help alleviate the economic hardships faced by many Nigerians.
During Thursday’s plenary, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced that the commitment has been fulfilled, with a total of N704,907,578.82 raised for the initiative.
He stated, “About five months ago, we decided to contribute half of our salaries to address the critical needs of the Nigerian people. I am pleased to inform you that we have successfully collected this amount.”
Abbas will lead a delegation to hand over the funds to the President, emphasizing that the money will be used exclusively for the benefit of those in need.
The decision to donate half of their salaries stemmed from a motion proposed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, aimed at combating hunger and providing relief to citizens grappling with economic difficulties amid growing discontent.
Kalu noted, “This government is doing its best, but one year is not enough to tackle the challenges facing our country. I urge my colleagues to sacrifice 50% of our salary for this period.”
