Reps Pledge Half Their Pay to Alleviate Hunger

Reps to donate 50% of salaries to fight hunger...

Nigerian lawmakers pledge to donate 50% of their salaries to combat hunger, as President Tinubu authorizes duty-free food imports to address soaring prices and food insecurity.

On Thursday, July 17, the House of Representatives held a plenary session, presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, where members pledged to donate 50% of their salaries for six months to combat hunger nationwide.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu presented a motion, which was subsequently amended, urging his colleagues to make this sacrifice and support the initiative to address the pressing issue of hunger in the country. His appeal was met with widespread support, as the representatives recognized the urgent need to alleviate the suffering of millions of Nigerians struggling with food insecurity.

“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 percent for a period of six months.

“Our salary is N600,000 a month. I want to plead that we let go of 50 percent of our salary for a period of six months,” Kalu said.

By contributing N300,000 each, the House of Representatives will collectively donate N108 million monthly to the Federal Government, totaling N648 million over the six-month period. This significant contribution aims to support the government's efforts to address food insecurity and alleviate the suffering of millions of Nigerians.

In a related development, President Bola Tinubu recently authorized the duty-free importation of essential food items, including rice, beans, and wheat, to combat the high food prices that have plagued the nation since 2023. According to a statement released by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, this measure will be in effect for 180 days, providing much-needed relief to Nigerians struggling with food insecurity.

According to Onanuga, President Tinubu has approved a 150-day duty-free import window for essential food commodities, including maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas, as announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Abba Kyari.

Since 2023, Nigerians have faced high food prices due to the removal of petrol subsidies by President Tinubu and the introduction of a market-driven exchange rate for the naira, leading to economic hardship and struggles for many citizens.

The policies led to a drastic increase in food prices, with a 50kg bag of rice skyrocketing from N20,000 to N70,000 within a year, causing widespread hardship among Nigerians.

In response, many citizens urged President Tinubu to allow large-scale food imports to mitigate the crisis, while others opposed this measure, fearing it would harm local food production and undermine the country's agricultural sector.