The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, advised the party’s legislators not to ride in the opulent official vehicles being planned for parliamentarians, but the Labour Party lawmakers in the National Assembly disregarded his advice.
A Sport Utility Vehicle costing N160 million would be purchased for each lawmaker, according to a statement made by Abure on Monday.
Given the poor economic circumstances in the nation, Abure called the purported scheme disrespectful and unacceptable and pleaded with parliamentarians chosen on the Labour Party platform not to participate in the wasteful spending.
Ngozi Okolie, a lawmaker for Delta Aniocha North and South, responded that Abure’s requests were unreasonable, especially because he had not yet given them any other options for carrying out their duties, when asked on Thursday whether LP lawmakers would comply with what Abure had demanded.
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The SUVs are intended to help us in our roles as MPs, especially with regard to our oversight responsibilities, the LP lawmaker stated.
Despite what he may claim, having one official car for federal parliamentarians is necessary and not just a luxury.
Okolie pointed out that while Nigerians were quick to criticise lawmakers over issues like these, state-level politicians gain more than those in the federal government.
“National Assembly members only get one car each, but Commissioners and House of Assembly members get up to two to three of these cars, yet he (Abure) is complaining and telling us not to collect it,” he claimed. Does he have any for us to receive?
“Does he have an alternative for us, or is he going to give us tools to do our jobs?” Has Abure instructed the officials in his state of Edo not to use the official vehicles that have been provided to them?
The congressman continued by stating that it was less expensive to acquire those vehicles than to hire one each time they wanted to go on an inspection.
Similar to this, Senator Stainless Nwodo of Enugu State stated President Bola Tinubu deserved praise for approving such vehicles for lawmakers. He represents the Igbo Etiti and Uzo-Uwani seats in that state.
“Members of the National Assembly should pray for the President and give him three ‘Gbosas’ for his magnanimity towards the lawmakers,” Nwodo advised.
“No one in the National Assembly is against the SUV. When the SUV comes, we will collect it and use it to bring more benefits to our constituencies; after all, it is for the constituents,”
“I don’t want to think the party chairman stated so,” the congressman said, “because did he give us any means of performing our duties?
“It is simply extortion to blame his behaviour on financial difficulties. In the first instance, the car is for each constituency rather than the members’ personal vehicles.
Additionally, when we need to visit our constituencies and distribute goods to them, we need these SUVs to navigate the rough roads there. For this reason, the Speaker and the Senate President thought that SUVs would be more appropriate for visiting our constituents.
“As for myself, I’m taking the SUV and using it to distribute dividends to my constituents,” he said.
Neda Imasuen, the senatorial district representative for Edo South, said he would hold off on making a judgement until the vehicles arrived.
I urge you to hold off until that occurs; after then, we will discuss the matter again, Senator Imasuen added. Before my chicks hatched, I wouldn’t want to count them.
“Of the 109 senators, there are eight from the Labour Party, and out of the 360 representatives, there are around 35. So, whether or not the party’s lawmakers accept it, I’m not sure if it would matter.
“I don’t think asking them to accept or reject would change anything; I don’t think it would have any impact.”
However, despite their assurances, they haven’t yet provided us with a vehicle.
