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In an unusual patriotic and sacrificial move, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu at Thursday plenary session called on his colleagues to sacrifice 50 percent of their salary for 6 months to support the indigent Nigerians.
Kalu’s call came via an amendment to the prayers of a motion of urgent public importance titled “An Appeal to the Proponents of Proposed Nationwide Protest, to Maintain Peace, Eschew Violence and Open Windows for Meaningful Engagements with the Government at all Levels in Order to Address Their Issues” earlier moved by
by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka from Ogun State.
Contributing in support of the motion, Kalu who admitted the economic hardship in the country however appealed to the citizenry to be patient with the federal government.
He said that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has laid solid foundation for economic growth through the various policies and programmes it has initiated, assuring that the impacts are underway.
Asking the people to reject calls for protests, the deputy speaker emphasized that the solution to the economic challenges of the country is not found in the protests but by supporting the policies of government.
Recalling that the members of the parliament also slashed their salary to assist the less privileged Nigerians during the nationwide lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 in 2020, Kalu enjoined his colleagues to sacrifice for Nigerians at this time as well.
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A statement by Kalu’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu stated that the deputy speaker also appealed to them to take the message of hope to their various constituencies.
He said: “I rise to support this motion, all important, timely, reasonable, nation-building motion that is laid on this floor with an appeal. It’s only a man who is patriotic, believes in nation building that presents such motion. So, I thank you Honorable Isiaka for being sensitive as a leader in Nigeria.
“I know many of us here are sensitive. Many of the representatives here are passionate about our country. That was why we left all the things we are doing to come to be part of a government that will grow our nation.
“We have a problem. It is not in doubt, Mr. speaker. There is no member here who disagrees with the point that there is a problem in Nigeria. But also there is no representative here who doesn’t believe that problems that we refer to did not just arise overnight. It is a compilation of years of difficulties that piled up.
“There is an agreement in our mind also that one year is not enough to resolve hydra headed problems, and as a solution hub, what we are here to do is to find the best plug to fit into the hole that will soothe the pain of Nigerians. Nigeria is bleeding. We agree. We are also Nigerians.
When subjected to a voice vote by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D who presided the plenary session, the motion got the overwhelmed support of the House and was eventually adopted.
