50% Pay Cut Stalled by Bureaucracy, Say Reps

Representatives attribute their inability to implement a 50% pay cut to bureaucratic challenges.

The decision made by the House of Representatives to reduce their salaries by 50% for six months has not been put into action yet.

On July 18, the federal legislators passed a resolution that would impact their salaries for the month of July. However, Rotimi Akin, spokesperson for the House of Representatives, cited bureaucracy as causing a delay in its implementation.

The House of Representatives has reiterated its dedication to the resolution approved on July 18 that calls for a fifty percent decrease in the wages received by esteemed members from July until December 2024.

“We recognize and apologize that the bureaucracy did not carry out this resolution as intended for July, despite our commitment made during deliberations on a motion to prevent the nationwide hunger protest starting from August 1.”

While discussing a motion aimed at preventing the nationwide hunger protest that commenced on August 1, the lawmakers made a commitment.

Titled “Appeal for Peaceful Nationwide Protest” and sponsored by Ibrahim Isiaka, the lawmaker representing Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency in Ogun State, this urgent motion implores proponents of the proposed protest to engage with governments at all levels through peaceful means and avoid violence. Its goal is to find meaningful solutions towards resolving pertinent issues.

During the plenary session, presided over by Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker, Benjamin Kalu – Deputy Speaker requested his colleagues to contribute towards government intervention efforts in addressing the situation. He amended motion’s pleas and urged for 50% of their salaries’ sacrifice.

The government is doing their utmost, but tackling the difficulties of this nation in just one year proves insufficient. Hence, I beseech our peers to consider conceding 50% for six months as a sacrifice towards overcoming these challenges.

I suggest reducing our salary by 50 percent for the next six months. Our current monthly earnings are N600,000.

The legislative chamber will contribute N108 million every month and a total of N648 million for six months, with each member contributing N300,000 towards a common pool.

All members approved and agreed to the proposal, which was subsequently confirmed as a resolution.

Nonetheless, our correspondent contacted the House spokesman, Akin who conceded that the legislators received their complete salaries for July.

The cause of the delay was crucial administrative procedures and collaboration with financial institutions. Nevertheless, we have issued instructions to adjust salaries and will implement them henceforth to ensure full realization of our promise.

He said that they appreciate your patience and assures you of their steadfast adherence to this pledge.

Last Thursday, the nationwide hunger protest started despite the government’s requests. Unfortunately, things turned violent in the North as youths proceeded to vandalize and loot public property.

Due to the circumstance, several northern states had no choice but to impose a curfew while cautioning against any scheme intending to destabilize the government.