The Senate has insisted on going ahead with its planned purchase of luxury vehicles for lawmakers despite criticisms from the public and concerns about the state of the nation’s economy.
The Senate’s decision to continue with the purchase of the luxury Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) was conveyed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, Sunday Karimi, yesterday, in Abuja.
Speaking to newsmen, he said the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly decided to purchase durable vehicles that would last for four years.
According to Karimi, “It was based on a comparative analysis of the cost of technical issues and durability on Nigerian roads… We want something that we can maintain for another four years. And the issue of buying vehicles for the National Assembly, you know it is a recurring issue, it occurs every Assembly; and it will always come up”.
Recall that the Senate’s decision was met with public outrage, with many Nigerians criticising the lawmakers for prioritising their luxury over the needs of the people.
The purchase of the vehicles, according to the lawmakers, is to cover the needs of the 469 members of the National Assembly. The upper chamber, the Senate, has 109 members, while the lower chamber being the House of Representatives, has 360 members.
