Members of the House of Representatives are demanding raises in their salaries and allowances, citing the removal of fuel subsidies and the state of the economy.
During a meeting on Tuesday, July 11, which included an executive session during plenary, some lawmakers expressed their concerns regarding their salaries and allowances, prompting the need to address the issue and alleviate tension.
During the meeting, some lawmakers raised their grievances about the delay in receiving their salaries and allowances, which led a few of them to resort to taking out loans.
However, speaking anonymously, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting said the discussion solely revolved around the need for a salary increase rather than the issue of delayed payment.
The lawmaker explained that they conveyed to the Speaker, Tajudeen Abass, that their current salaries and allowances were no longer sufficient to meet the demands of their positions, necessitating a review.
“So nobody talked about any money or whether we have been paid or not,” the lawmaker explained.
The source said the focus was on the economic challenges resulting from the fuel subsidy removal, which has led to skyrocketing prices of goods and services in the country, according to NAN
The news agency also stated that the source disclosed that Abass did not make any promises regarding the salary and allowance review, as such matters can only be accommodated through the proper budgetary process.
The speaker, according to the anonymous legislator, told his colleagues that their request for a review of their salaries and allowances was not in the 2023 budget.
The source emphasised that given the country’s situation, they understood why the speaker could not make immediate commitments, stating, “We all know the situation in the country; we are all facing the same problem.”
The Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is responsible for determining the salaries and allowances of public officials and had proposed a 100 per cent increase.
However, the approval of such an increase is pending the president’s decision and inclusion in the budget.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu submitted a communication to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 12, seeking an amendment to the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act.
The proposed amendment aims to allocate ₦500 billion for the provision of palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
President Tinubu stated that the requested amendment was necessary to ensure the government’s ability to provide support and relief measures to alleviate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.
