Lawmakers’ 50% salary cut not rhetoric – Reps

The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has said the lawmakers will reduce the current hardship and hunger in the country.

Agbese said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday.

NAN reports that Agbese spoke following doubts expressed by some Nigerians as to the truth of the 50 per cent cut in their salaries.

Members of the House of Representatives during plenary had raised a motion of urgent public importance, where the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, called for a 50 per cent cut in their salaries.

Moreover, Agbese said “Hardships speak in a universal language, their language is the same across the country and as a parliament, we are going to leave no stone unturned to address the hardship.

“I strongly believe that with our legislative agenda as a parliament, this is going to be the last time in the country that we will be discussing palliatives.

“We will ensure that we work day and night to ensure we go through this hardship and hunger for the last time,” he said.

He said that the 50 per cent salary cut was not just going to be sacrificed, but the attitude that was needed to transform the country.

Agbese said the 50 per cent cut in salary by members was not just rhetoric, adding that they were committed to their promise to the Nigerian people.

He said, “Beyond the 50 per cent cut in salary, we are equally working as a parliament on different empowerment interventions using our constituency projects to give succour to the people,”

He said that members would also give succour to young men and women in agriculture, empower people in business, and support those who are in school.

Agbese said there was no need to doubt the intention of the House for the 50 per cent cut in salary, adding that “what we have agreed to do is out of patriotism, selflessness and love for the country.”

According to him, when people have genuine intentions, there is no cause to ridicule the intention by passing unnecessary doubt as to the veracity of our 50 per cent cut in salary.

“When there is hunger in the land, it shows on people’s faces, and when interventions are made, it will also show on the faces of the people,” he said.

NAN.