Why We Are Buying N4.7billion Worth Of Cars – Nigerian Senate

The Nigerian Senate has responded to reports by online news
platform, Premium Times, that it plans to illegally spend an estimated N4.7
billion on exotic cars for its President, Bukola Saraki, and 108 other members.

In a statement signed by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi,
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, the senate claimed that the
vehicles are to be used for execution of committee assignments, noting that,
they are not meant for individual senators.

Premium Times had reported that the purchase of the cars in
the guise of buying it for committees is a ploy to circumvent the monetisation
policy of government which forbids the purchase of official cars for public
officials.

Under the policy, no new vehicles should be purchased by any
agency of government for use by public officials.

Rather, public officers and political office holders are to
receive 250 per cent of their annual basic salary as motor vehicle loan, which
translates to N5.07 million for each senator and N545,000,000 million for 109
senators and not N4.7billion as quoted by the senate.

Sources at the National Assembly however said the Senators
got these loans before also proceeding to acquire these new Toyota Land
Cruisers.

The Senate spokesperson also said the cars in Mr. Saraki’s convoy
are so old that they are begging for replacement.

Yet Premium Times learnt the cars were only supplied shortly
before the end of the last legislative session in June.

Mr. Abdullahi did not also explain why 10 cars were being
bought for Mr. Saraki when the law only provides for six cars for him.

Read the full statement by the senate below

PROJECT VEHICLES FOR COMMITTEE WORK, SAYS SENATE

“The vehicles are not meant for individual Senators. They
are purchased for the use of the committees.

“For those who may want to find out what happened to the
ones bought in the past, we cannot expect that after four years, the vehicles
will still be in the condition to effectively serve the present committees. The
best practice in government institutions and even private organizations is for
official vehicles allocated to top officials after four years of use to be sold
at the depreciated value”, Abdullahi stated.

“We have been very frugal, responsive and responsible in our
spendings. We have also cut down on several expenses. However, there are
certain expenses and purchases that are normal in government and any
organisation generally. The legislature is not an exception.

“With respect to the official vehicles of the Senate
President, it should be noted that majority of the vehicles in his convoy are
his personal vehicles while some of the vehicles that he inherited, including
his official vehicles and the back up car, are so old that they are already
developing faults and not fit for long journey. We can recall that on several
occasions, his official car broke down. Three instances will suffice here. I
remember on a visit to Nasarawa state for a wedding of the daughter of a
colleague. Other occasions were at the National Mosque three weeks ago and at
the Abuja airport.

“The implication is that the vehicles in his official convoy
are so old that they are already causing embarrassment for the Senate. The
media should know that a man of his antecedent will not at this point be
excited with purchase of new cars. His official cars are really long overdue
for replacement.

“The media should avoid deliberately portraying the
legislature as irresponsible and inciting the people against it. We seek the
understanding of the media to explain issues and situations to the people. Both
the media and the legislature have different roles to play in sustaining our
democracy and none should be seen to be undermining the other.”

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