Atiku Abubakar Criticizes House of Rep for Salary Cut, Calls for Reduction in Allowances Instead

Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has voiced criticism against members of the House of Representatives for their decision to reduce their salaries by 50% over a six-month period.

The House adopted an amendment proposed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, urging lawmakers to divert half of their N600,000 monthly salaries to support government efforts in alleviating the country’s high food prices and easing the hardship faced by Nigerians.

Under this arrangement, each member contributing N300,000 monthly will collectively contribute N108 million per month to the federal government, amounting to N648 million over six months.

Expressing his discontent on social media platform X, Atiku condemned the move and suggested that lawmakers should cut down on their allowances instead of their salaries.

He emphasized, “The real excesses lie in allowances, not salaries. There is excessive spending and a lack of prioritization on non-essential expenditures. What we need is an across-the-board reduction in expenditure pork. We cannot continue borrowing to finance governmental irresponsibility.”