Three months down the line, the resolution of the House of Representatives that 50 percent of members’ salaries should be cut for six months in solidarity with the Nigerian people who have been experiencing economic challenges and food insecurity, is yet to be implemented.
The lawmakers had on July 18, 2024, adopted an amendment to a motion of urgent public importance, proposed by the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia) that the members should contribute 50 per cent of their monthly salary of N6O0,000 to assist Nigerians during the challenging times.
The motion moved by Hon Isiaka Ayokunle from Ogun State was tagged, “An Appeal To The Proponents of Proposed Nationwide Protest To Maintain Peace, Eschew Violence and Open The Windows For Meaningful Engagements With The Government At All Levels In Order To Address Their Issues.”
However, as at October 18, exactly three months after, it was unclear if that resolution was being implemented with just three months left for the action to elapse.
This is as the spokesperson of the House, Hon Akin Rotimi Jr (APC, Ekiti) did not respond to messages sent to his mobile and WhatsApp number for several days.
Rotimi had in early August said the delay in the implementation of the 50 per cent lawmakers’ salary slash for an initial period of six months was due to administrative procedures and coordination with financial institutions.
He said, “It has come to our notice that some media outlets are reporting claims of discrepancies in the salaries of members of the House, suggesting that we received 100 per cent of our July salaries, amounting to N936,979, despite pledging to donate 50 per cent of N600,000 for six months to efforts to ameliorate the conditions of our constituents.
“We wish to clarify the following: The actual monthly salary for honourable members is N600,000 after deductions for advances such as housing, which are paid at the commencement of the tenure.
“The House of Representatives remains committed to the resolution passed on July 18, 2024, which mandates a 50 per cent reduction in the salaries of honourable members for six months.
“We acknowledge and regret that this resolution was not implemented by the bureaucracy as intended for the month of July.
“Resolutions of the House are ratified when the votes and proceedings of plenary are adopted on the next legislative day. Consequently, the bureaucracy was only formally instructed on July 23, 2024.
“This delay in implementation was thus due to necessary administrative procedures and coordination with financial institutions. Instructions for adjusting salaries have since been issued and will be enforced moving forward to ensure our pledge is fully realized.”
When LEADERSHIP Weekend contacted some lawmakers on the non-deduction of the money, they claimed that they were not authorised to speak on the matter.
According to them, the House leadership had in early August, in an internal memo, restricted them to speak on matters that concern them individually or their constituencies and not for the House.
One of the lawmakers who does not want to be mentioned, said, according to the internal memorandum, “Speaking on behalf of the House is reserved exclusively for the House spokesperson, deputy, and leadership… Caucuses may only address matters related to their specific geo-political zones.
“Leadership recognises the rights of all members to freedom of association and expression; however, these rights are limited to personal opinions or issues affecting the member’s constituency and not to issues that impact the entire House.”
