LP, CSJ Condemn N160m Car Gift to House Members

Chuks Okocha and Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Labour Party has expressed shock and sadness over the planned distribution of N160 million cars each to members of the House of Representatives, saying it was disappointed at their decision when the country was faced with deepening poverty.

Also, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), has described as insensitive, the purchase of the Toyota SUVs against the background of Nigeria’s perilous fiscal position, saying from all indications, money was borrowed to buy the exotic cars for the lawmakers

The Labour Party called on members of the party in the lower chamber to kick against the distribution of the N160 million in line with the Labour party ideology..

In a statement by the National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, he said, “The Labour Party is indeed shocked, saddened and disappointed at the level of insensitivity being displayed by the executive and the legislative arms of the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress administration.”

Abure said when the news filtered that 360 members of the House of Assembly were to be gifted vehicles worth about N160 million each, it was thought to be a huge joke.

“It is saddening that with deepening poverty among Nigerians, the administration has decided to increase its appetite for a life of opulence to mock hardworking but underprivileged Nigerians.

“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.

“These vehicles will be costing Nigerians about N57.6 billion and this is happening at a time when government claims it cannot afford to increase the minimum wage of N30,000 monthly to workers.”

On their party, the CSJ in a statement jointly signed by the NGO Good Governance Manager, Victor Emejuiwe, and Public Finance Management, Sundayson Chidi, noted “with regret the confirmation by the House of Representatives, that it is taking delivery of Toyota SUVs worth about N130 million each as official vehicles.

“CSJ and indeed all right-thinking Nigerians are extremely troubled about this development against the background of Nigeria’s perilous fiscal position. The 2022 year-to-end budget implementation report confirmed that 96 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue was used for debt service, thus implying that only 4 per cent was available for personnel, overheads and capital expenditures and this trajectory has worsened in 2023.

“The implication of this is that Nigeria is borrowing to buy these vehicles at a time we are unable to meet foreign exchange obligations to service providers like airline operators and manufacturers who can no longer secure foreign exchange for the purchase of raw materials.”