The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to support the Federal Government with N648 million for six months by cutting down their salaries by 50% to support food sufficiency across the country and to address the high cost of food.
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This is also as the lawmakers begged Nigeria to exercise more patience with President Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration in addressing challenges and hardships faced by citizens.
The House further mandated it’s Committee on Appropriation, Humanitarian affairs, Finance and Budget to ensure compliance.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion moved on the floor of the House tittled “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”, by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (APC- Ogun State) during plenary in Abuja.
Moving the motion, Isiaka said though Nigerians 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.
According to him, maintaining peace and engaging in constructive dialogue with the government is crucial for the resolution of issues facing the nation.
“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.
“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.
He further admitted that it is undeniable Nigeria is facing significant challenges, challenges that have plagued the nation for far too long, adding that the issues of insecurity, unemployment, and poverty weigh heavily on the hearts of every Nigerian.
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“Further aware that 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. Belief that 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.
“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.
“We plead with our fellow Nigerians to consider the broader perspective, to act with wisdom and foresight, and to 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, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu who moved the motion for lawmakers to support the federal government with 50% of their salaries for six months said Protest is not a Solution to solving the problem of hunger in the country.
He said “Solution not found in raising placard, Rome is not built in a day. Let us give support to all policies of govt to better the lives of citizens.
“This time is calling for sacrifice. People here are willing to make sacrifices. Please bear with the government a little. Let’s make sacrifices with our salaries.
On his part, Ahmed Jaha (APC- Borno) said that it takes a reasonable period to correct what has been damaged for a reasonable period.
He said “Remember, tough times do not last forever for tough men. And there is always a light at the end of every struggle. Mr Speaker, Honourable members, this government is doing what we have hoped. We are appealing to our young men to give the government the benefit of the doubt. Bearing in mind the people’s oriented policies, and programs that are laid down for this government to pursue especially in the area of school and student loans.
“Just yesterday, the President launched, under the distinguished leadership and chairmanship of a distinguished financial engineer and banker, Jim Hogan. And he stated categorically that in the next one or two weeks, students will be allowed to have access to apply to that and that has been transmitted or presented to some schools in the country.
“Secondly, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we should understand that President Tinubu can not do anything to destroy his hard-earned reputation and theocratic capabilities.
“We should give him and any other stakeholder in this government the benefit of the doubt. So that at the end of the day, we can come out of the cock-map the country is in. In addition to this, I am calling on the collaboration between the tiers of government, the federal, the state and the local government to be on the same page, to bring an end to the current crisis we are facing.
“Lastly, I want to use this opportunity to tell us that if you compare the cost of living, even among West African countries, you will appreciate the cost of living in Nigeria.
“We must appreciate this. Last two months, I cooked breakfast. I had to pay 25 pounds. In Nigeria, that particular breakfast cost me less than 2,500 naira. So what I’m trying to say is actually, it’s a global issue. It’s not peculiar to Nigeria at all. Our young men should understand this. We are appealing.
“We are pleading on our knees. As young men, we are pleading for peace in the country. So that at the end of the day, we will be out of our current situation.
Another lawmaker, Hon Usman Basiru (Sokoto- APC) said organizing protests will undermine the peace and unity of the country.
According to him, the young people who are calling for the protest have not taken the necessary steps to make their own money. In that way, most Africans are calling protests directly to the streets.
“We must consider the atmosphere that we call a protest and a peaceful protest. The present atmosphere, whose demonstration, any story, or any form of demonstration that is organizing protests is undermining the peace and unity of our dear country.
“It is contrary to how you must consider the national interest about individual or group interest. Most Africans, these people that are calling for protests, I believe don’t know what will happen when they go ahead to call for the protest.