In a significant gesture aimed at mitigating the economic hardship caused by the removal of the petrol subsidy, the House of Representatives has announced plans to present a relief fund of N704.91 million to vulnerable Nigerians.
The fund will be handed over to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on December 31, 2024, for exclusive distribution to those in need.
This development follows a resolution passed on July 18, 2024, when the House agreed to slash 50% of their salaries for six months.
The motion, initiated by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, was part of efforts to address hunger and economic challenges faced by ordinary Nigerians and to quell growing dissatisfaction expressed through the “End Bad Governance” protests.
While presenting the motion in July, Kalu stated, “This government is doing its best, but one year is not enough to address the challenges of this country.
I want to plead with our colleagues to sacrifice 50% of our salary for a period of six months. Our salary is N600,000 a month, and this gesture can make a meaningful impact.”
During Thursday’s plenary, Speaker Tajudeen Abba expressed pride in the collective effort of the House members. “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,” he said. “On December 31, I will lead a delegation of leadership to hand over the money to the President for the exclusive use of the vulnerable Nigerians who really need it.
The contributions you made highlight the steadfastness and dedication of members to addressing the critical needs of Nigerians.”
This initiative underscores the commitment of the House of Representatives to alleviating the impact of subsidy removal and supporting Nigerians during challenging economic times.
The fund’s allocation is expected to target hunger alleviation and provide direct benefits to those most affected by rising living costs.