KEY POINTS
- Nigerian lawmakers raised N704 million by halving their basic salaries for five months to support vulnerable citizens.
- Speaker Tajudeen will present the funds to President Tinubu on Dec. 31 to aid those affected by reforms.
- Critics highlight that the cuts apply only to basic salaries, leaving allowances exceeding N10 million untouched.
Members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives have raised N704 million to support vulnerable citizens affected by the nation’s economic challenges.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen announced Thursday during a plenary session that the funds were collected through a 50 percent reduction in lawmakers’ basic salaries over five months.
House delegation to present N704 million
Tajudeen said he would lead a delegation to present the money to President Bola Tinubu on Dec. 31.
“If you recall, about five months ago, we decided to contribute half of our salaries to address the critical needs of the Nigerian people,” Tajudeen said.
He added that, “So far, we have contributed N704,907,578.82. On December 31, I will lead a delegation of the House leadership to hand over the money to the president for the exclusive use of vulnerable Nigerians who truly need it.”
The initiative stems from a July resolution proposed by Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu, urging lawmakers to support federal efforts to mitigate the economic impact of recent reforms.
Economic reforms intensify hardship
Nigeria’s economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the naira, have contributed to skyrocketing inflation, which reached 34.6 percent in November.
Food inflation was recorded at 39.93 percent year-on-year, significantly impacting household purchasing power.
During his 2025 budget presentation, President Tinubu acknowledged the rising cost of living, pledging that “no Nigerian should go to bed hungry.”
Public sentiment has increasingly turned toward demands for reduced governance costs, with calls for transparency in officials’ allowances and other earnings.
Salary cuts draw praise and criticism
While the salary cut initiative was initially praised, critics have noted it applies only to lawmakers’ basic salaries, which the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) lists as approximately N794,000 monthly.
Lawmakers’ allowances, reportedly exceeding N10 million monthly, remain unaffected, prompting questions about the extent of their sacrifice.
The initiative reflects an attempt to demonstrate solidarity with Nigerians facing unprecedented economic challenges, but transparency advocates continue to push for a broader reduction in governance costs.
