BREAKING: Reps to sacrifice 50 percent of monthly salaries to address hunger – Newstrends
Connect with us

News

BREAKING: Reps to sacrifice 50 percent of monthly salaries to address hunger

Published

2 months ago

on

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen

BREAKING: Reps to sacrifice 50 percent of monthly salaries to address hunger

Members of the House of Representatives on Thursday, July 18, resolved to contribute 50 percent of their monthly salaries for six months to alleviate economic hardships, particularly hunger, in the country.

Speaker Abbas indicated that each member earns approximately N600,000 monthly, resulting in a total contribution of about N108 million per month from the 360 members.

The funds will be directed to the government for the purchase of food items to distribute to Nigerians.

The decision followed a debate on a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka (APC, Ogun), which emphasised the importance of halting proposed nationwide protests, maintaining peace, avoiding violence, and fostering meaningful engagement with government at all levels to address pressing issues.

The deputy speaker proposed amending a motion appealing to young Nigerians planning protests due to the country’s hardships, suggesting that members should consider sacrificing half of their salaries to combat hunger.

However, when the Speaker, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen put the motion to voice vote, the majority of members voted in favour of the motion.

In proposing the amendment, Kalu had reminded members that the House took a similar decision during the COVID-19 era and it worked very well for the country.

The speaker commended members for their resolve to sacrifice part of their salaries to address hunger in the land just as some members asked the Executive to also make sacrifices in line with what the lawmakers have done.

Moving the motion earlier, Hon. Isiaka said while the citizens of Nigeria have the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest to address their grievances; the House presents with a humble plea, a plea for reason, understanding, and unity in the face of adversity.

READ ALSO:

He said maintaining peace and engaging in constructive dialogue with the government is crucial for the resolution of issues facing the nation.

He said further: “Be it resolved that this honourable House appeals to the proponents of the proposed nationwide protest in Nigeria to consider a different path, a path of patience, dialogue, and collaboration, prioritize peace and open channels for meaningful engagements with the government at all levels.

“Be it further resolved that all stakeholders should uphold the principles of democracy. Respect human rights, and uphold the rule of law in their actions and engagements; we trust that through peaceful engagement and dialogue, we can collectively work towards building a better and brighter future for Nigeria”.

The Ogun Lawmaker said: “It is undeniable that Nigeria is facing significant challenges, challenges that have plagued our nation for far too long. The issues of insecurity, unemployment, and poverty weigh heavily on the hearts of every Nigerian. The desire for change, for progress, for a better tomorrow is a sentiment that unites us all.

“The challenges we face are not unique to Nigeria alone. These are issues that countries across the globe grapple with on a daily basis. In a world that is constantly changing and evolving, no nation is immune to the complexities of governance and development.

“The road to change is not easy, and the journey towards a brighter future is often fraught with obstacles. But we must not lose sight of the incremental steps that have been taken, the reforms that have been implemented, and the strides that have been made towards a more prosperous Nigeria.

“Change does not happen overnight, it requires patience, perseverance, and a commitment to working together towards a common goal. While peaceful protest is a fundamental right in a democratic society, it is also important to allow the government the space and opportunity to consolidate the progress that has already been achieved.

READ ALSO:

“Let us engage in constructive dialogue, let us seek solutions through peaceful means, and let us stand united as one nation, one people, with a shared vision for a better Nigeria.

Together, we can overcome the challenges that lie before us. Together, we can build a future that we can all be proud of.”

He said Nigerians should consider the broader perspective, act with wisdom and foresight, and support efforts towards a more stable, secure, and prosperous Nigeria. Let us reason together. let us listen to one another, and let us work hand in hand towards a brighter tomorrow.

Contributing to the motion, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu said while there is no gainsaying the fact that there is a problem in the country, the solution to the existing problem cannot be achieved overnight.

He said the problems in the country did not just start and cannot be addressed in just one year, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has put in place lots of policies aimed at addressing the pressing challenges in the country.

While saying the cry of Nigerians has been heard loud and clear, carrying placards is not the solution to the problems in the country, saying while searching for solutions, the people must be able to understand the policies of the government.

He said it is time the lawmakers take the message to the people to be patient since hard times will not last.

While appealing to Nigerians to shun the planned protest, Chief Whip of the House, Usman Bello Kumo alleged that there were desperate politicians who were working very hard to frustrate the policies of the government.

Also contributing, Hon. Ahmed Jaha Babawo said it takes some time to correct what has been damaged, adding that with the policies of the government, there was light at the end of the tunnel.

He said: “Let us give the President the benefit of the doubt. I want to call for collaboration between all tiers of government in addressing the challenges we have”.

Also contributing, Hon. Kabir Ahmadu said while the House has resolved to sacrifice part of their monthly salary for six months, members of the Executive, led by the President and Vice President should also do the same while the proceeds should be used to buy foodstuff for distribution to Nigerians.

Leader of the House, Hon. Julius Ihonvbare expressed confidence that with the current policies of the government, Nigerians will soon have reasons to smile as there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Members were unanimous in appealing for caution on the part of those planning the nationwide protest as they may not know the eventual outcome of the protest.

BREAKING: Reps to sacrifice 50 percent of monthly salaries to address hunger

The Nation

Related Topics:
Advertisement

News

Tinubu extremely wealthy, can’t loot Nigeria’s treasury, says minister

Published

6 hours ago

on

September 16, 2024

By

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu extremely wealthy, can’t loot Nigeria’s treasury, says minister

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has described President Bola Tinubu as an epitome of wealth with no interest to loot Nigeria’s resources.

Olawande stated this while speaking at the Joint Union Negotiating Council’s week of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development branch in Abuja.

The minister also appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the president, noting that in no distant time there will be positive changes.

He said, “I urge you to be patient with this administration. In no distant time, the country will take good shape and the lives of the citizens will be transformed.

READ ALSO:

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a pauper; he is an acknowledged epitome of wealth and so it cannot be said of him that he desires to loot the treasury of Nigeria.”

Olawande continued, “He has seen money and as a result of this, he is not interested in looting the nation’s treasury.”

He emphasized that the administration is putting in efforts to transform the lives of Nigerians through various policies of the federal government.

Olawande thanked the staff of the ministry for being supportive of the government policies and assured them that their welfare will not be compromised.

Tinubu extremely wealthy, can’t loot Nigeria’s treasury, says minister

Continue Reading

News

BREAKING: Nigeria’s inflation rate slows for second consecutive month to 32.15% – NBS

Published

7 hours ago

on

September 16, 2024

By

BREAKING: Nigeria’s inflation rate slows for second consecutive month to 32.15% – NBS

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased to 32.15% in August 2024 down from the 33.40% recorded in July 2024, reflecting a decrease of 1.25 percentage points.

This represents the second consecutive monthly slowdown in inflation after easing in the previous month.

This is according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

READ ALSO:

However, on a year-on-year basis, the August 2024 inflation rate was 6.35 percentage points higher than the 25.80% rate recorded in August 2023, indicating a significant increase over the past year.

On a month-on-month basis, the inflation rate in August 2024 stood at 2.22%, slightly lower than July’s rate of 2.28%, signaling a slower pace in the increase of the average price level compared to the previous month.

BREAKING: Nigeria’s inflation rate slows for second consecutive month to 32.15% – NBS

Continue Reading

News

Edo poll: Six persons arrested in Benin hotel with fake PDP letterheads, forged signatures

Published

11 hours ago

on

September 16, 2024

By

Edo poll: Six persons arrested in Benin hotel with fake PDP letterheads, forged signatures

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested six young men in a hotel located in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Benin City with fake letterheads, stamps, and forged signatures belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its chieftains.

The young men, who were apprehended with incriminating materials such as printers, mobile phones, power banks, laptops, and a photocopy machine, are believed to have been involved in drafting and circulating fake PDP letters and statements.

Their objective was to paint the PDP as instigators of unrest ahead of the forthcoming Edo governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.

The arrest, which was made following a tip-off, uncovered an elaborate scheme allegedly designed to discredit the PDP and its leaders by sending fabricated documents to unsuspecting journalists.

These fake letters and statements, according to police sources, were intended to portray the party as warmongers and troublemakers in the run-up to the critical election.

A police officer involved in the operation, who asked to remain anonymous, revealed that the suspects had been using the hotel as their base of operations for weeks.

“We found that these individuals were using forged PDP letterheads, stamps, and signatures to create fake documents.

“Their goal was to send out these documents to journalists in an attempt to misrepresent the PDP and create an atmosphere of tension ahead of the elections,” the officer said.

READ ALSO:

In addition to the counterfeit materials, the police discovered that the young men had several technological devices, including laptops and printers, which they used to produce and disseminate the fraudulent documents.

“Their setup was sophisticated. They had everything they needed to make the documents appear legitimate, from forged letterheads to printers.

“We also found power banks, mobile phones, and a photocopy machine, which they used to mass-produce the fake letters,” the officer added.

Further investigation has revealed that the six young men were funded by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Meanwhile, another police source disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force, Edo State Command, has come under intense pressure from senior APC figures, who are reportedly pushing for the release of the arrested men.

“Since the arrest, there has been immense pressure on us from certain chieftains within the APC, urging the command to release these individuals.

“We believe that their involvement with these young men is being covered up, and they are worried about the potential fallout from this arrest,” the source noted.

A journalist with one of the prominent national newspapers, who had been unknowingly receiving fake statements from the group, expressed shock upon hearing about the arrests.

“It’s alarming to think that we’ve been receiving statements from people who were impersonating the PDP. This shows how low some people will go to try and sabotage the other party. The integrity of this election is now under serious question,” the journalist stated.

The Edo State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, but sources within the command say investigations are ongoing, and the suspects remain in custody.

Edo poll: Six persons arrested in Benin hotel with fake PDP letterheads, forged signatures

Continue Reading

Trending