The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said that the salary of the National Assembly members is not as much as Nigerians think,k and 50 percent of it cannot be sacrificed to mitigate the suffering of the masses.

Amidst the ongoing economic crisis, some Nigerians have urged members of the National Assembly to take a significant step in alleviating the suffering.

One of the calls demanded that lawmakers cut their salaries by half to demonstrate solidarity with the masses grappling with rising inflation, unemployment, and a general decline in living standards.

Responding to the call during an interview session, the Deputy Speaker acknowledged the severity of the crisis and emphasized the need for intervention.

He also underscored the importance of sound policies that extend beyond mere pronouncements.

Kalu said that delayed gratification is essential for long-term gains, even as Nigerians endure the current hardships.

“But at the moment, talking about the salary of the members of the National Assembly, it’s not as much as people think. Salary is different from allowances, which are meant to do the jobs that the constituencies have sent us to do.

“Nobody is allowed to touch allowances, it’s your salary that belongs to you. Allowances have subheadings for things which they are meant for. If you use it wrongly, when you are retiring, you would be sanctioned for that.

“So talking about the salary of the members of the National Assembly, it’s far from what it’s supposed to be. And I can assure you that if you reduce it by 50%, it would not impact the public.