House of Representatives Fails to Implement 50% Pay Cut Faults Bureaucratic Delays
By: Emmanuel Ibitoye
It’s been a couple of weeks since the House of Representatives vowed to take a 50% pay cut to show solidarity with Nigerians struggling to make ends meet. But, surprisingly, their July salaries remained untouched. The promised reduction, meant to kick in immediately, has been stalled by bureaucratic red tape.
Rotimi Akin, the House’s spokesman, acknowledged the delay, saying they’re still working out the kinks. “We’re committed to making this happen, but it’s taking a bit longer than expected,” he explained.
The pay cut proposal, championed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, aimed to free up millions for federal intervention efforts. But with the protests turning violent in some parts of the country, it’s unclear if this gesture will be enough to placate the angry masses.
The situation on the ground is growing more desperate by the day. Hunger protests have spread to more states, with demonstrators demanding action from the government. The authorities have responded with curfews and warnings, but it’s clear that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the crisis.
