House of Representatives halves salaries amid economic crisis, proposing a six-month reduction starting from a motion of urgent public importance.
In an unprecedented move, members of Nigeria's House of Representatives have voted to slash their salaries by 50 percent for the next six months. This decision comes as a response to the widespread economic hardship facing the country.
The resolution was passed during a plenary session on Thursday, following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance. The motion, sponsored by Ibrahim Isiaka from Ogun state, was titled "An Appeal to the Proponents of Proposed Nationwide Protest to Maintain Peace, Eschew Violence and Open the Windows for Meaningful Engagements with Government at all Levels to Address their Issues."
Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu proposed the amendment, describing it as a worthy sacrifice for legislators to make. He initially stated that lawmakers earn ₦500,000 monthly, but Speaker Tajudeen Abbas corrected this figure to ₦600,000.
While this move appears to be a gesture of solidarity with struggling Nigerians, public reaction has been mixed. Many citizens have expressed skepticism, pointing out that the lawmakers' salaries are just a fraction of their total compensation. Critics argue that the real impact would come from reducing allowances, which reportedly make up the bulk of legislators' earnings.
Others have questioned the transparency of the process, noting that the full details of lawmakers' compensation packages are not public knowledge. Some see the move as an attempt to avert planned nationwide protests rather than a genuine effort to address economic inequalities.
