Members of the House of Representatives have donated their salaries for March and April to the National Relief Fund on COVID-19.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House made this announcement in a video message on Tuesday.
Senators and ministers earlier donated 50 percent of their salaries to the same cause.
The speaker said the money is meant to alleviate the hardship that their constituents face at this time of national emergency.
“We have in the house of representatives jointly committed to contributing one hundred per cent (100%) of our salaries for the next two months to the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria,” Gbajabiamila said.
“Starting from March salary, the lawmakers’ donation will be transferred directly to the National Relief Fund account for the fight against COVID-19.
“Our contribution will support provisions for the welfare of front-line medical professionals and health workers, and other interventions to provide for the well-being of all Nigerians through these trying times.
“Accordingly, I have directed the clerk to the national assembly to see to it that all members’ salaries are transferred to the national relief fund for this month and the next.”
Gbajabiamila also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make cash grants available to the 774 local government areas in the country to alleviate the suffering of the masses amid the pandemic.
He said the grant should be for the provision of food and other essentials to at-risk individuals and communities.
He added that committees have been charged with the responsibility of monitoring the equitable distribution of relief donations by foreign and local groups and individuals.
“This crisis has exposed in the worst possible way the evident weaknesses of our health system,” the speaker added.
“After this is over and moving forward, we must do everything in our power to ensure that we will never again come upon a moment such as this, as ill-equipped as we are now.”