Members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives have contributed N705 million, half of their basic salaries from July to December 2024—to support President Bola Tinubu’s initiative for vulnerable citizens. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced this on Monday during a Ramadan fast-breaking event with the President and Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa. He stated that the gesture was a show of solidarity, demonstrating that lawmakers empathized with Nigerians facing economic hardship. The decision followed concerns over a possible nationwide youth protest against rising living costs, food scarcity, and unemployment. Lawmakers said the donation aimed to support the Tinubu administration’s efforts to address the economic crisis. The resolution of the House was sequel to a motion of urgent importance for “An appeal to the proponents of the proposed nationwide protest, to maintain peace, eschew violence and open windows for meaningful engagements with the governments at all levels in order to address their issues.” The motion was sponsored by the member representing Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency, Ogun State, Ibrahim Isiaka, during plenary. Speaking at the Presidential Villa on Monday, Abbas announced that the money was ready to be handed over to the Presidency. “The House decided on our own that we need to do something symbolic to show our concern to the entire people of Nigeria that the predicament they were in, we also felt it. “And because of that, we took a resolution that from July 2024 to December 2024 will sacrifice 50% of our basic salaries so I will now set that money aside and contribute and donate to you, so that you can also use it to look at the targeted areas in Nigeria where we have vulnerable people who I need of food, shelter, accommodation, clothing and what have you. “We leave it to you to decide on where and where you want to intervene. But it is a symbolic contribution from the house to show you, as well as show the whole entire nation, that the passage of that particular period was being felt by each and every one of us. “Your Excellency, I’m happy to inform you that the House contributed the sum of 705 million naira, being the 50% of our monthly salary for the for a period of six months,” he said.