The Nigerian Senate has justified its planned purchase of luxury vehicles for lawmakers.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, October 24, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, Sunday Karimi, said that the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly decided to buy the luxury cars for lawmakers because of durability and maintenance for four years.
He further stated that Nigerians were picking on lawmakers but ignoring ministers. According to him, some ministers have more than three Land Cruisers, Prado and other vehicles and questions are not asked.
‘’I am sure you know we have a department of procurement in the National Assembly. They did a comparative analysis of cost, durability and they came up with suggestions and we took their suggestions. That they approved a Landcruiser for us and somebody that is a Minister will have three Landcruiser, Prado and over vehicles in their convoy, and you are not asking them questions. Please spare us a bit.
Go to Nigerian roads today. If I go home once to my Senatorial district, I come back spending a lot on my vehicles because our roads are bad”
The lawmakers drew the anger of many Nigerians a few weeks ago when it was disclosed that some members of the House of Representatives were set to take delivery of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) valued at 160 million naira each.