That House of Reps’ salary cut amid public discontent

The resolve by members of the House of Representatives to sacrifice 50 per cent of their salaries for six months is ordinarily a display of solidarity with the masses, who are going through a very difficult time economically. There is paucity of disposable income, inflation is galloping for every commodity and food items are expensive, prompting the slogan ‘we are hungry.’

But the gesture has been left so late that it is interpreted ostensibly as being adopted to placate the Nigerian youth and prevent their planned nationwide protest. By relinquishing 50 per cent of their monthly salary, which would amount to about N600,000 per legislator, the 360 members would be contributing about N108 million monthly for six months to the government. What is more important is for the lawmakers to be steadfast and sincere in their gesture, which they should also follow up with other arms of government to ensure that Nigerians are relieved of their long suffering. It certainly will be worthwhile for lawmakers in the states to emulate this gesture and show solidarity with the teeming masses and their current economic travail.

The lawmakers made the resolution recently, following a motion by Hon. Isiaka Ayokunle, from Ogun State, appealing against the ongoing nationwide protests. In adopting Ayokunle’s motion, albeit with some amendments, the members resolved that each legislator should surrender 50 per cent of his or her salary for six months. The decision is praiseworthy for, at least demonstrating that the lawmakers are also making sacrifices and are not disconnected from the economic hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.

The lawmakers are often criticised for receiving high salaries, emoluments, and perks. Their personal financial sacrifices could also help to improve their credibility and public perception in a country facing economic challenges. This strategic move by the Federal legislators could help to reduce the momentum of political tension, mitigate public outrage, and placate the likelihood of protests in order to create a more stable environment for governance and economic activities in Nigeria.

However, while these are potential positive impacts, the effectiveness of such a gesture depends on the broader context of governmental actions to ameliorate the worsening living conditions in Nigeria through the implementation of concrete policies in the coming days toward addressing the demands of protesting Nigerians. In other words, it is not enough for members of the House of Representatives to reduce their salaries for six months; the House should take concrete steps to demonstrate its genuine commitment to tackling the economic hardship in Nigeria. For example, the House could resolve to scrap the Constituency Projects, which have been abused and used as conduits for siphoning off the national treasury. The lawmakers can instead focus on several key areas to improve governance and benefit their constituents.

For instance, they should ensure effective oversight of the executive branch to prevent corruption and ensure the efficient use of public funds. Federal legislators should develop and pass laws that address pressing national issues such as security, education, healthcare, and infrastructure development. Additionally, they should engage with their constituents to understand their needs and concerns and advocate policies that benefit them. Lawmakers should support anti-corruption efforts and advocate for transparency and accountability in government.

Beyond reducing their salaries, the Representatives should be courageous enough to call for the immediate implementation of the Oronsaye Report aimed at reducing the cost of governance including drastic cut in international and domestic travel expenses for the President, Vice-President and their respective hordes of aides. For a country running on a deficit budget, it does not make sense to squander a scandalous sum of N15 billion for the construction of “a befitting residence” for Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

Similarly, why is, in the 2024 Budget, the sum of N40.61 billion allocated to the Villa Headquarters, with a substantial portion of N6.484 billion allocated for international and local travel? Why is N3 billion allocated for the construction of offices for Special Advisers and Senior Special Advisers; N3 billion for the acquisition, renovation, rehabilitation, and furnishing of the State House Annex; N6 billion for operational vehicles, with an additional N4 billion for operational vehicles and an extra N2 billion specifically earmarked for Special Utility Vehicles (SUVs)? Therefore, to mitigate the consequences of this humongous wasteful expenditure, it is essential for the Tinubu government to adopt fiscal discipline and responsibility.

The Tinubu government should remove the economic barriers such as strangulating taxation, high Value Added Tax (VAT), high import tariffs, lack of property rights, unfair trade regulations, the shutting down of important trade borders (as we are witnessing in Nigeria at the moment), and erratic power supply. These economic barriers inhibit the Nigerian people from freely using their God-given abilities to create wealth for themselves. The government should promote policies that encourage local production and reduce dependency on food imports by investing in agricultural research and development to improve crop yields and farming techniques.

Instead of placating the people with tokenism and palliatives, the Tinubu-led government should adopt credible fiscal policies, ensure transparency and accountability in financial management, and prioritise investments that contribute to sustainable economic development and the improvement of the well-being of the people. A nation’s greatness is not measured by tokenism and palliatives, but by sound economic policies, good governance, and prudent financial management, which in the long run will contribute to the overall well-being and contentment of the people of Nigeria.

Nigerians do not expect President Tinubu to work miracles overnight on the country’s worsening economy. However, people are eager to see some indications of a fresh start, signs of renewed hope, and promises of a better future. Unfortunately, so far, these signs have been notably absent. Among others, the Tinubu-led government should urgently marshal out some concrete plans on how to intensify agricultural activities capable of raising the abysmally low level of food production in the country and, by extension, reducing poverty in Nigeria. This is one of the ways in which the people will begin to take the government seriously and reconsider frequent protests.