Follow Us on Google
Despite the current hardship in the country, the National Assembly (NASS) leadership decided to procure brand new Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for lawmakers. This is in fulfillment of the earlier announced plans by the NASS leadership to purchase 2023 model Toyota Land Cruisers for 109 Senators and 2023 Toyota Prado for 360 members of the House of Representatives. The lawmakers are said to have started receiving their brand new vehicles. The cost is not certain, but some reports put the price of the Toyota Prado at about N130 million each and a total cost of N57.6 billion. This smacks of gross insensitivity.
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi, defended the purchase of the cars. He said the vehicles were utility operational vehicles tied to the oversight functions of the lawmakers and that they were not personal vehicles gifted to the honourable members.
He added, “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, 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.”
As far as Hon. Rotimi is concerned, the 10th assembly wants to ensure its independence and integrity by keeping a respectable distance from the executive arm of government especially as regards logistical aspects of oversight functions, including reaching difficult terrains in the country. Hence, he reasoned, they need functional and reliable off-road vehicles.
This is hogwash. As expected, many Nigerians have expressed their outrage over the purchase of these vehicles. The Labour Party, for instance, urged its NASS members to kick against the SUVs. The National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, reportedly expressed shock, sadness and disappointment at the level of insensitivity being displayed by the Tinubu-led administration.
“How else can any government justify the bloated Federal Executive Council of 48 cabinet ministers, with each of them given three luxurious four-wheel drive vehicles on the first day in office, paid for and fueled by taxpayers? This is notwithstanding hundreds of presidential and ministerial aides, as well as numerous aides to the aides which are being funded by the government,” Abure wondered. There was similar outrage in July when President Bola Tinubu approved N70 billion for the NASS from the 2022 supplementary budget.
It is unfortunate that our government officials have continued to exhibit opulence while the poor masses continue to die in penury. Currently, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is still negotiating with the government on increasing the minimum wage of workers which is still N30, 000. For many of these workers, their take-home pay can hardly take them home. Inflation has hit 26.72 per cent, the highest in over 18 years. It will likely rise further before the year ends. Food inflation jumped from 29.34 per cent in August to 30.64 per cent in September. The sudden removal of fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, worsened the high cost of living such that the price of a 50kg bag of rice is between N50,000 and N55,000. Prices of many other essential goods and services have skyrocketed beyond tolerable level. Rather than cut the cost of governance to shore up the weak naira and boost the economy, government has continued on its borrowing spree. The country is reportedly set to borrow another $1.5 billion from the World Bank for budget support. Meanwhile, about 96.3 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue was used for debt servicing in 2022. This means only about 4 per cent was available for capital and recurrent expenditure.
The naira has become so weak that it now exchanges for over N1, 000 to a dollar. The country has found it difficult to meet foreign exchange obligations to manufacturers and some service providers. The situation calls for the patronage of local manufacturers to boost our local economy. But our government finds it more expedient buying foreign products to boost the economy of other countries.
The House of Representatives spokesperson said the practice of buying brand new SUVs did not start with the current NASS and that it was not peculiar to the legislature. Senior government officials in the executive arm also have official vehicles attached to their offices. But must we continue to practise what will obviously put our economy in jeopardy?
The National Assembly has become a drainpipe on the economy of this country. For doing very little, the lawmakers corner humongous amount of the nation’s resources. Some of them go there to sleep; some don’t even initiate bills or contribute to debates. The time has come to put a stop to all this. At 63, Nigeria has continued to grope in the dark due largely to actions of its politicians and government officials. There is need for serious political and economic reforms in the polity to avoid the total collapse of the country.
