The House of Representatives has announced its plan to donate the sum of ₦704.91 million to assist vulnerable Nigerians grappling with the economic challenges arising from the removal of petrol subsidies. The presentation is scheduled for December 31, 2024, to President Bola Tinubu.

Salary Deduction Initiative

The fund represents contributions from the House members, who had resolved to donate 50% of their salaries over six months. This decision, made on July 18, 2024, was in response to mounting economic hardship faced by Nigerians and aimed to address critical needs, particularly hunger, among the most vulnerable citizens.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, addressed his colleagues during Thursday’s plenary, expressing his pride in the collective effort:

“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 ₦704,907,578.82,” 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.”

Motion That Led to the Initiative

The motion to donate a portion of their salaries was moved by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu during a plenary session in July. In his motion, Kalu called on his colleagues to make sacrifices to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, emphasizing that the government needed time to address long-standing economic challenges.

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% for a period of six months. Our salary is ₦600,000 a month. I want to plead that we let go of 50% of our salary for a period of six months.”

The motion was adopted, demonstrating a rare gesture of solidarity with the Nigerian populace.

Aimed at Vulnerable Nigerians

The ₦704.91 million fund is expected to target Nigerians most affected by the subsidy removal. The funds are intended to provide relief to those in dire need, highlighting the lawmakers’ commitment to addressing the immediate needs of the people.

Speaker Abbas underscored the importance of the initiative:

“This contribution reflects our steadfastness and determination to address the critical needs of our citizens. It shows that we, as representatives of the people, are willing to make personal sacrifices for the greater good.”

Economic Challenges and Subsidy Removal

The removal of the petrol subsidy, implemented earlier in 2024, has led to increased fuel prices, which in turn escalated the cost of living for many Nigerians. This economic strain has prompted protests and calls for relief measures.

The House of Representatives’ donation is part of a broader effort to mitigate the impact of these economic challenges.

Presentation and Public Expectations

The presentation of the relief fund to President Tinubu is expected to draw attention to the importance of government efforts to address poverty and provide social safety nets for vulnerable populations. Citizens hope that the funds will be utilized transparently and effectively to meet the intended goals.

As the country awaits the disbursement of the funds, the gesture by the House of Representatives serves as a reminder of the importance of leadership and shared responsibility in tackling national challenges. Whether this initiative will inspire similar actions from other arms of government or sectors remains to be seen.

This act of goodwill by lawmakers also raises expectations for more robust policies and programs aimed at long-term solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.