Chairman of the Nigerian Senate Committee on Services, Sunday Karimi has disclosed the reason behind the move by the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly (NASS) to buy luxury vehicles for lawmakers.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Karimi as saying the lawmakers need vehicles that will not only be durable on Nigerian roads but also vehicles that could be maintained for a period of four years.
“It was based on a comparative analysis of the cost of technical issues and durability on Nigerian roads. We want something that we can maintain for another four years.
“And the issue of buying vehicles for the National Assembly, you know it is a recurring issue, it occurs every assembly, it will always come up,” he said.
Karimi said this on Tuesday while speaking with journalists in Abuja, justifying the planned purchase of luxury vehicles for lawmakers in the two chambers of the NASS.
TNG reports Rep. Rotimi Akin, the Spokesperson of the House of Representatives had said the distribution concerned vehicles tied to lawmakers’ oversight functions in the discharge of their duties, and that they are not personal gifts.
The utility Prado jeep is said to be worth N130 million each. The NASS comprises 469 members. While the Senate has 109 members, the House of Representatives has 360 members.
Lawmakers have the option to purchase the vehicles – Akin
Earlier, in a statement confirming the procurement and distribution of te utility Prado jeeps, worth N130 million to lawmakers, Akin had said the initiative aligned with existing procurement laws, adding that it was a customary practice in previous assemblies.
He said the distribution concerned vehicles tied to lawmakers’ oversight functions in the discharge of their duties within the standing committees, and they are not personal gifts.
“For the duration of the 10th assembly, spanning from 2023 to 2027, these vehicles will remain the property of the National Assembly.
“However, should the government’s extant assets deboarding policy still be in place at the end of the assembly’s tenure in 2027, lawmakers may have the option to purchase the vehicles before they become their property. ”
He emphasised the importance of the vehicles in enhancing the performance of lawmakers’ duties, especially when it comes to oversight functions in various regions of the country.
Akin said the aim was to ensure that government interventions, programmes, and policies were effectively carried out, no matter where Nigerian citizens reside.
He highlighted the percentage of the legislature’s budget as part of the national budget which had steadily decreased over the past decade, currently standing at 0.5 per cent of the federal budget.
He urged stakeholders to focus on reducing costs in the right areas while supporting lawmakers in their efforts to fulfil their duties effectively and with integrity.
He said the vehicles were work tools and not status symbols, intended to facilitate improved representation, constituency outreach, and oversight functions by elected representatives.
TNG reports this is coming at a time when Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship.