Reps fail to effect 50% pay cut, blame bureaucracy

The members of the House of Representatives have yet to implement their resolution to slash their salaries by 50 per cent for the next six months.

The federal lawmakers made the resolution on July 18 and it was expected to reflect in their salaries for the month of July but the spokesman for the House of Representatives, Rotimi Akin, blamed bureaucracy for the delayed implementation.

“The House of Representatives remains committed to the resolution passed on July 18, which mandates a 50 per cent reduction in the salaries of honourable members for the period from July to December 2024.

“We acknowledge and regret that this resolution was not implemented by the bureaucracy as intended for the month of July.”The lawmakers had made the promise while deliberating on a motion, seeking to forestall the nationwide hunger protest, which began on August 1.

The lawmakers had made the promise while deliberating on a motion, seeking to forestall the nationwide hunger protest, which began on August 1.

The motion of urgent importance, sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency, Ogun State, Ibrahim Isiaka, was titled: “An appeal to the proponents of the proposed nationwide protest, to maintain peace, eschew violence and open windows for meaningful engagements with the governments at all levels in order to address their issues.”

At the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, amended the motion’s prayers by pleading with his colleagues to sacrifice 50 per cent of their salaries to support the government’s intervention efforts to address the situation.

“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 per cent for a period of six months.

“Our salary is N600,000 a month. I want to plead that we let go of 50 per cent of our salary for six months.

“With each member paying N300,000 into a common purse, the legislative chamber will be contributing N108m monthly to the Federal Government and N648m for six months.”

The proposition was unanimously welcomed and confirmed as a resolution.

However, when contacted by The Punch, the House spokesman, Akintunde Rotimi, admitted that the lawmakers collected their full July salaries.

“This delay was due to necessary administrative procedures and coordination with financial institutions. Instructions for adjusting salaries have now been issued and will be enforced moving forward to ensure our pledge is fully realised.

“We appreciate your patience and assure you of our steadfast adherence to this pledge,” he said.

Despite entreaties by the government, the nationwide hunger protest began last Thursday, turning violent in the North, where youths vandalised and looted public property.

The situation forced a number of northern states to declare a curfew, with the military warning against any plot to destabilise the government.