FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19: Reps donate 2 months salaries

Nigerian House of Representatives have agreed to donate 100 pee cent of their salaries for two months for the fight against Covid-19 in the country.

This was stated in a statement the media office of the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila made available to newsmen on Tuesday.

“We have in the House of Representatives jointly committed to contributing 100 per cent of our salaries for the next two months to the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria.

“Our contribution will support provisions for the welfare of frontline medical professionals and health workers and other interventions, to provide for the wellbeing of all Nigerians through these trying times.

“Accordingly, I have directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to see to it that all members’ salaries are transferred to the National Relief Fund for this month and the next.

“This is independent of ongoing individual efforts by members to alleviate the suffering brought on by this virus and to improve the living conditions of citizens in their various constituencies,” the statement said.

The Speaker said the House would exercise its oversight power to ensure faithful administration of all emergency funds and contributions made so far, to ensure they serve the purpose for which they were intended.

He said based on that the House had asked the Committees on Health and Disaster Preparedness to “diligently oversee the distribution of items donated by local and foreign donors to ensure proper management.”

He further revealed that the lawmakers had urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make cash grants to the 774 local government areas of the country to alleviate the suffering by the masses.

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“The House also calls on the CBN, as part of its policy measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, to immediately direct cash grants to the 774 LGA administrations in the country to provide food and other essentials to at-risk individuals and communities.”

The Nigerian Senate had earlier on Monday, also announced its members would be donating half of their salaries to the Federal Government until the nation is totally free of coronavirus.

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