Rep Tunji Olawuyi, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness has assured that his committee alongside that of Health would ensure judicious use of the salaries of members donated to fight COVID-19
Olawuyi, who represents Ekiti, Isin, Irepodun and Oke-Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara, in a statement, he signed on Tuesday disclosed that members of the House of Representatives, had agreed to donate their 100 percent salaries for March and April to fight COVID-19.
He said the speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, had directed the clerk of the house to ensure members’ salaries for the month in question was transferred straight to the account of the National Relief Fund for the fight against COVID-19.
Olawuyi said that the Speaker directed his committee and that of Health to ensure that funds and relief materials donated towards the fight of the COVID-19 were properly disbursed for accountability purpose.
He expressed hope that the House’s effort to ensure Nigerians were protected from contracting the virus paid off, adding that the whole world was on its toe to stop the spread of the virus.
The Lawmaker said two-month salary donation was independent of the contributions by individual members to alleviate the hardship that their constituents face at this time of global emergency.
Olawuyi said that the Speaker had urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as part of its Policy Measures in Response to the COVID-19 outbreak, to immediately direct cash grants to the 774 Local Government Area administrations in the country to provide food and other essentials to at-risk individuals and communities.
On his part, Olawuyi, said arrangements were almost concluded to reach out to the people of his constituency with food items after a successful awareness and enlightenment campaign as well as distribution of safety items to them to stop the spread of the virus.
He appealed to the people of the area and the state in general to work with the state government to fight the battle to end the scourge of the COVID-19