Labour Party lawmakers in the Anambra State House of Assembly on Thursday, announced their decision to relinquish their six months basic salaries to tackling food and medical challenges of their constituents.
The legislatures, under the Anambra State Labour Party House of Assembly Caucus, said the gesture was informed by the prevailing harsh economic realities across the country which he said their leader, and Presidential Candidate of the party, Mr Peter Obi, had earlier raised alarm over.
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, the member representing Onitsha South Constituency Two, Hon Jude Umennajiego also called on President Bola Tinubu and State governors to declare a state of emergency on security and hunger in the nation.
He further called on the masses to keep hope alive, describing hope as not just a virtue but the currency for a better tomorrow.
He said, “We, the Labour Party House of Assembly members wish to lend our voice to the cry of our dear Leader, Mr. Peter Obi on the State of the Nation after our emergency caucus meeting sitting.
“We, therefore advise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend work on all other sectors including infrastructure for the next six months and declare a state of emergency on security and hunger in the nation.
“All State governors including our dear governor Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo should suspend all infrastructural development in their various States for the next six months and declare a state of emergency on security and hunger.
“We, the Labour Party House of Assembly members will relinquish our basic salary for six months to be our contribution to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
“We all know that the campaign is over and the election is over. Majority of Nigerians are suffering. People are dying every day as a result of hunger and insecurity.
“Thus, there is a need for the Federal government and State Governments to adhere to the advice given by our leader Mr. Peter Obi.
“We must commend our leader, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi for this selfless effort to ensure the stability and growth of our Nation. It really shows that he is committed to making this nation a better place for all of us.
“To the masses, hope is a virtue; we must sustain hope. That is the currency for a better tomorrow.”
Also speaking, Comrade Nigeria Henry Mbachu representing Awka South Constituency One, said the move had no political coloration.
“Every reasonable and responsible government must first secure lives before talking about infrastructure because someone must be alive and secured before any other thing else.
“Our party’s ideology is for the welfare of the masses. Regrettably, that sole ideology has been tampered with. There’s hunger in the land. When people call us, they make several demands which are genuine.
“Yet, we’re here blowing grammar and making bogus policies and data when the masses are dying of hunger; insecurity everywhere. That’s what we want the government to focus on.
“This is not politics, we’re since done with elections. Besides, hunger doesn’t know which party you belong to. Everyone is affected. I’m sure other colleagues are also planning on what to do.
“We want the government to focus on food and insecurity within the next six months and we continue other sectors. We’re committing our six months salaries to food and medicare,” he advised.
On the modalities the salaries would be disbursed, Mbachu said the decision would be taken in due course.
