Members of the National Assembly have come under pressure to donate their one month salary for the fight against the novel coronavirus spreading across the country. The federal lawmakers have been criticised for their silence on making personal donations after ministers donated 50 per cent of their March 2020 salaries to support government’s efforts in combating the deadly virus.

Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, who announced the ministers’ donations, said it was a gesture of solidarity and support for the federal government’s efforts at tackling the disease. Before Mohammed’s announcement, many wealthy Nigerians had donated billions of Naira to strengthen the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Recall that Rep. Mansur Manu Soro, Ganjuwa/Darazo federal constituency (Bauchi State), had asked his colleagues to sacrifice their March salaries and raise N360 million for the cause. The lawmaker, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, urged his colleagues to contribute N1m each to buy ventilators and other medical consumables needed to fight the coronavirus and treat victims. The convener, Good Governance Team (GGT), Mr Tunde Salman, said the COVID-19 pandemic requires all efforts to stem its spread and eventually get a solution.

“Measures like the lawmakers being asked to donate their March salaries are not out of place,” Salman added. Also, the Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, said the lawmakers do not seem to have impressed Nigerians and that donating their March salaries and allowances to fight the COVID-19 virus is not out of place. Lawmakers disagree on personal donations Some lawmakers who spoke to our correspondents expressed diverse views on making personal financial commitments to the fight against COVID-19.

While some support the call, others said donating half or whole of their March salaries would make no difference as members were already spending much on their constituents. Senator Betty Apiafi (Rivers West) said taking 100% of their salary would amount to nothing as the country was dealing with a pandemic, stressing that the federal government needed to make funds available. Senator Apiafi, who is also the deputy chair, Senate Committee on Health, told our correspondent that “donating 50 per cent of our salary is not a problem, but we are already spending much more because of the level of hunger in our various constituencies.” She, however, expressed worry over lack of adequate testing facilities and isolation centres to contain even an expected number of patients.

The senator said both the federal and state governments needed to, as a matter of urgency, start importing hospital consumables and necessary equipment, and start massive emergency response. Without consumables, she said health workers would run away and leave patients to their fate. Similarly, House spokesman, Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia), said asking for members’ half salaries is “shortchanging our constituents from the magnanimity members want to show and are already showing.”

Kalu, in a WhatsApp message to our reporter, said, “If Nigerians knew our salaries, they will not be asking for half of it. What will half of our salaries fetch for our constituents? “That’s the easiest sacrifice to make and why Nigerians are asking for the easiest sacrifice from their representatives is what I am not aware of, especially when the representatives are willing to do more and are actually doing more than 10 salaries put together.”

Senator Muhammad Adamu Bulkachuwa (Bauchi North) declined to comment on the call on National Assembly members to donate their March salaries but said he would “personally contribute and lead a fundraising”.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/covid-19-senators-reps-under-pressure-to-donate-march-salary.html

Donate what

Those guys are greedy. They won’t.

I thought they said they have donated 50% of their salary..

Why been under pressure again

The same money they will still loot. Awon corporate robber.

what do you mean under pressure, whose pressurizing who? money they will still reloot lol to this bravado

Who beg them?

Those who asked them to forfeit their March salary they are very stupid. Who send them... we are not orphan anyone who need money should confront them... Nigerians deserve better.

Greedy set of people. Let's watch