The House of Representatives has announced its plan to present a donation of N704.91million to President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, December 31 in a significant gesture aimed at alleviating the economic hardships faced by vulnerable Nigerians.
This contribution represents half of the lawmakers' salaries for a six-month period, a decision made in response to the economic challenges following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The initiative was spearheaded by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who moved a motion during a plenary session in July, urging his colleagues to sacrifice 50% of their monthly earnings, which amount to N600,000 each, for the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. "This government is doing its best, but one year is not enough to address the challenges of this country," Kalu stated. "I want to plead with our colleagues to sacrifice 50 per cent for a period of six months."
Speaker Tajudeen Abba, addressing the House, expressed pride in the collective effort, saying, "If you recall, about five months ago, we decided to contribute half of our salaries to address the critical needs of the Nigerian people. I am happy to inform you that so far, we have contributed N704,907,578.82."
The funds are intended to support those most affected by the economic downturn, exacerbated by the subsidy removal. The presentation of the donation to President Tinubu is scheduled to take place at the end of the year, showing the commitment of the House to address the pressing needs of the nation's most vulnerable citizens.
This move comes amidst broader economic discussions, including the federal government's plans for a N13trillion loan and the presentation of a N49.7trillion budget for 2025 by President Tinubu.
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