Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have been handed to members of the House of Representatives, and this week, senators will receive the first shipment of exotic cars.
Remember how the leadership of the National Assembly announced that each politician would receive an exotic car valued at N160 million, and that principal officers would receive bulletproof cars?
The estimated cost of the SUVs for each of the 360 members of the House of Representatives and the 109 senators is N57.6 billion.
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In the meantime, this has angered the population, particularly in light of the massive debt load and the historically high percentage of poverty among Nigerians.
Akin Rotimi, the House of Representatives’ spokesperson, stated in an interview with Newsmen that members of the House have begun accepting the car delivery.
He disclosed that the elderly, persons with disabilities of any kind, and women were given preference in the parliament.
The final batch of SUVs for MPs will come before December, according to Rotimi, who also claimed that only members who have successfully resolved their court matters will receive the vehicles.
He said, “Some members have started taking delivery of their vehicles. Priority was given to women in the parliament, people with any form of disability and the elderly.
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“The management has also ensured that only members who have been fully disposed of their court cases will be given the vehicles to avoid problems.”
Speaking next, a Green Chamber member who asked to remain anonymous said that the management was keen for members to provide an explanation for why they were using the vehicle for their legislative operations.
He pointed out that the administration had sent out a memo instructing members not to sell any of the cars, explicitly indicating that they belonged to the National Assembly.
He said, “This particular Assembly is very particular about things being done right. In previous assemblies, people would collect their vehicles and sell them off, but the Speaker has put his foot down against such.
“The spokesperson was mandated to issue a statement internally to members and ensure that no member must sell their vehicles as they are National Assembly property.
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“Beyond the circular, the management is seriously following up, particularly to justify the purchase, because the vehicles were bought to give lawmakers a level of autonomy from the executive.”
The cars will be sent in three batches so that the committee chairmen and members can utilise them to carry out their responsibilities, a high-ranking source informed Newsmen.
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