New Vehicles: Reps Give Clarity on Usage of Newly Procured Exotic Cars
- The lower chamber of the National Assembly has responded to the social media outburst over purchasing exotic cars for lawmakers
- It was gathered that lawmakers in the Senate and House of Reps would soon receive deliveries of their new cars
- However, the legislative arm of the government has revealed that the new cars are not for private use but for official use
FCT, Abuja - Reports in Abuja have confirmed that the House of Representatives announced that the 10th National Assembly members will soon receive vehicles to facilitate their work.
According to Daily Trust, the management is acquiring and distributing these vehicles to the members.
Source: Facebook
House spokesperson and Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi, announced this on Sunday, October 15.
Rotimi clarified that this statement addresses the recent reports circulating in mainstream and social media, which have garnered public attention.
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Vehicles not for private use, says Reps
He emphasized that these vehicles are intended for lawmakers to perform their duties within the standing committees and are not personal gifts.
Rotimi said:
“For the duration of the 10th assembly (2023 – 2027), the vehicles shall remain the property of the National Assembly at the expiration of the tenure of the 10th Assembly in 2027, should the extant assets deboarding policy of government still be in place.
“Honourable members may have the option of making payment for the outstanding value of the vehicles to government coffers before they can become theirs, otherwise it remains the property of the National Assembly.”
He also underscored the House's commitment to reducing the overall cost of governance following current economic conditions.
Historically, purchasing new multi-million Naira vehicles for lawmakers every four years has been controversial.
Billions of Naira are spent on acquiring vehicles for the 360 members of the House of Representatives and the 109 Senators after each assembly.
The 10th National Assembly, including returning members in the Senate and House of Representatives, will also receive new vehicles, incurring significant costs to the nation.
Also reacting to this development, an anti-corruption policy and legislative advocacy activist, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said the Nigerian government must understand that the current economic dispensation does not support extravagant and unneeded expenses.
In an exclusive chat with Legit.ng, Rafsanjani, who is the chairman board of Amnesty International, Nigeria, said:
"Our government must understand that the Nigerian economy can no longer sustain flamboyant and extravagant expenses. This is because of the huge debt surrounding us.
"Secondly, it also because of the bad economy that we have and thirdly, because of the difficult challenges Nigerians are facing due to bad economy, corruption and lack of financial discipline in Nigeria."
He further stated that the legislature and the executive should be careful of whatever they're inviting as Nigerians are not pleased with the nation's current state.
Rafsanjani advised that the government should be more sensitive in their decision-making as Nigerians cannot feed, pay school fees, afford primary healthcare or even transport themselves.
FG borrowing $1.5bn from World Bank to buy N160m SUV each for 360 Rep members, Moghalu alleges
Meanwhile, former Deputy Governor of CBN, Kingsley Moghalu, said the $1.5 billion loan requested by the Nigeran Government is for official cars.
Moghalu said the loan would be used to purchase 360 SUVs worth N160 million for each member of the House of Representatives.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, confirmed that the loan would be disbursed soon.
Source: Legit.ng
