House to Go Ahead with Purchase of 360 Cars

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

Despite the uproar that greeted the purchase of official vehicles for senators, the House of Representatives has said it will go ahead with its plan to purchase 360 official vehicles for its members.

The lower legislative chamber is expected to purchase 360 units of Peugeot 508 to be used for committee oversight duties by its members.

The Chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, who briefed newsmen yesterday, however, declined to reveal what was appropriated in the National Assembly’s budget for the vehicles.

But THISDAY learnt that each of the Peugeot 508 cars costs between N8 million and N10 million.
Several lawmakers have described the criticism directed at the National Assembly over the purchase of the vehicles as unnecessary.

A lawmaker, who did not want his identity disclosed, wondered why the legislature was being singled out when official car purchases cut across all tiers and arms of government.
“Every minister has three official cars. Legislators at my state House of Assembly have Toyota Prado SUVs as their official cars. So if anyone says we do not deserve official cars, the policy should be across board,” he said.

Another lawmaker clarified that the vehicles being purchased do not belong to the lawmakers.
“The vehicles are for committee work, not personal cars. Each member belongs to one or more committees, and would use the allocated vehicles,” he said.