Kalu Begs Nigerian Youth to Shun Anti-govt Protests, Supports for 6 Months’ Salary Cut of Lawmakers to Support Nigerians

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu at Thursday plenary session called on his colleagues to sacrifice 50 percent of their salary for 6 months to support the indigent Nigerians.

Kalu’s call came via an amendment to the prayers of a motion of urgent public importance titled “An Appeal to the Proponents of Proposed Nationwide Protest, to Maintain Peace, Eschew Violence and Open Windows for Meaningful Engagements with the Government at all Levels in Order to Address Their Issues” earlier moved by

by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka from Ogun State.

Contributing in support of the motion, Kalu who admitted the economic hardship in the country however appealed to the citizenry to be patient with the federal government.

He said that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has laid solid foundation for economic growth through the various policies and programmes it has initiated, assuring that the impacts are underway.

Asking the people to reject calls for protests, the deputy speaker emphasized that the solution to the economic challenges of the country is not found in the protests but by supporting the policies of government.

Recalling that the members of the parliament also slashed their salary to assist the less privilegedNigerians during the nationwide lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 in 2020, Kalu enjoined his colleagues to sacrifice for Nigerians at this time as well.

He also appealed to them to take the message of hope to their various constituencies.

He said: “I rise to support this motion, all important, timely, reasonable, nation-building motion that is laid on this floor with an appeal. It’s only a man who is patriotic, believes in nation building that presents such motion. So, I thank you Honorable Isiaka for being sensitive as a leader in Nigeria.

“I know many of us here are sensitive. Many of the representatives here are passionate about our country. That was why we left all the things we are doing to come to be part of a government that will grow our nation.

“We have a problem. It is not in doubt, Mr. speaker. There is no member here who disagrees with the point that there is a problem in Nigeria. But also there is no representative here who doesn’t believe that problems that we refer to did not just arise overnight. It is a compilation of years of difficulties that piled up.

“There is an agreement in our mind also that one year is not enough to resolve hydra headed problems, and as a solution hub, what we are here to do is to find the best plug to fit into the hole that will soothe the pain of Nigerians. Nigeria is bleeding. We agree. We are also Nigerians.

“So, I want to join in the prayers of this motion to speak to the people of Nigeria. Your crying is right. Your complaint of hardship is right. But is the solution found in carrying placard and lining the streets? Is the solution found in copying a country lesser than us? The references that are made today to Kenya and the rest of them; they are smaller countries to Nigeria. We are giant of Africa. We must proffer solution that is better and sustainable and lasting. That solution is not found in our children being killed on the street while protesting. It is not found in our raising placard. It is found in supporting the policies of government and understanding that these policies need time to begin to materialize.

“Rome was not built in a day. In 360 days, the president of this country has not rested, has not gone on Jamboree, has not gone to pursue shadows. He has been deliberately, intentionally laying foundation for a nation that needs stability.

“And we have been supporting, and I thank the parliament for all the support. We have been giving support to all the policies of government with one single agenda in mind: the people, the people and the people. How to make our people better.

“And I want to say that we should support this motion not only in this House but in our various constituencies.

“Mr. Speaker, the lover of peace, it’s about time we took the message to our various constituencies and begin to appeal to them to be a little patient. Mr. President did not mince words when he said there will be difficult times but it will not last forever. It is delayed gratification for greater gain. Let us wait a little longer. Let us not go to the streets. Hope is coming.

“We, your parliamentarians are making sacrifices. Mr. Speaker, I want to appeal even if it means cutting our salary to help with provision of food for our people who are hungry. I want to appeal that the House looks into that.

I know our salary is not much but we did that the during COVID era. We cut, slashed our salary and we helped the people. This is a time that is calling for sacrifice and I’m sure these people here are willing to make sacrifices for our people. Let them consider our appeal.

“Mr. Speaker, a gentleman here, a member of the parliament called me this morning. He said, we are young parliamentarians, we want to go and appeal to Nigerians, even if it means kneeling down, asking them to be a little patient. And this parliamentarian is not from APC. This parliamentarian is from the opposition party.

“He said, I’m young like those who are agitating. I am on social media like those who are agitating. But I know the effort we are making here to make the nation great. If it means kneeling down to them, we will kneel.

“The parliament is calling on Nigerians. Please, bear with the government a little longer so that these policies will begin to see the light of the day. Thank you as I appeal to this house to in one voice support and be willing if the leadership calls for us to make sacrifices with our salary, just a little pain for us to be able to provide food for our people. Thank you very much honorable colleagues.

“With your permission, Mr. Speaker and honorable colleagues, I would like to amend the prayers if the house will permit that the members look into our salaries. That we look at a percentage of that salary for. Your Excellency, I’m moving that we amend our prayer to include that members sacrifice maybe 50% of our salary for a period of three months or six months to help Nigerians and to show that we are in support”.

When subjected to a voice vote by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D who presided the plenary session, the motion got the overwhelmed support of the House and was eventually adopted.