Why we bought N3.6 Billion exotic cars during recession – Reps



The House of Representatives on Thursday defended its decision to buy exotic cars for its 360 members at a period the country’s economy is in recession.


It said lawmakers must have a means of mobility while carrying out oversight duties over Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

The House will spend at least N3.6bn across 24 months to complete payment for the luxury vehicles supplied by the Kaduna-based Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited.

It can be recalled that on Monday the firm had already delivered 28 units of Peugeot 508 series to members in the first batch of 50 cars.

A total of 360 units of the exotic automobile would have been delivered by January 2017.

The Deputy Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Jonathan Gaza, while defending the procurement of the cars on Thursday, said that recession would not stop lawmakers from performing their legislative duties.

He argued that in a recession, both the executive and legislative arms of government were expected to work even harder to find urgent solutions to challenges facing the country.

Gaza noted that while working during recession, members were not expected to trek to the premises of the MDAs for oversight duties.

He added, “In a recession, we will all put on our thinking caps. We are working; these are committees’ cars and they are not the personal property of members.

“When you came here today, how did you come? Did you walk down to this place (National Assembly) from your house?

“If a member is going to visit an agency, will he trek there?

“We need materials, computers, stationery, cars; these are all for work.”

Asked to comment on whether the National Assembly would approve Buhari’s bid to take a loan of $29.96bn, Gaza replied that discussions were ongoing between the two sides.

The lawmaker said no conclusions had been reached.

He also declined to speak categorically on whether the government had begun making releases for the constituency projects of lawmakers.

The constituency projects of senators and members are worth N100bn in the 2016 budget of N6.06tn.

The refusal of the government to fund the projects is reported to be one of the sore points in the relationship between Buhari and the National Assembly.

But, when asked a direct question on the issue, Gaza parried it.

“We don’t release money for constituency projects. Our work is to pass the budget and we passed the 2016 budget. It is the responsibility of the executive to release funds for projects.

“Also, the money is not paid into our pockets, we don’t touch it,” he replied.
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  1. I wouldn't have a problem with this purchase if it was bought from a Nigerian firm (Innoson). That would be 3.6 bln naira to a Nigerian to be used in Nigeria completely, no expatriation of funds. But unfortunately, Innoson is an IBO man, and a northerner would do everything in his power to cut short any prosperity of an IBO man. Only when it really serves his political ambition would he release crumbs to the IBO man like the supply of a few dozen military vehicles.

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  2. In these times, what Nigerians expect is for you to make sacrifices and use your personal cars for the visits to the MDAs instead of buying cars to do so.

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  3. The question Nigeria's are asking our president and parliamentarians is inspite of the critical economic recession, would it not have been reasonable to work out basis of urgent solution in turning round the sickening situation and afterwards think of compensating the good gestures for at least with moderate and not that kind of exortic cars, while the governed are trying to come out of the mess this same group of courses for this country. Meanwhile we are made to pay the unbelievable high cost of fuel, electricity, essential commodities just to mention a few, which this so called leaders a supplied also by taxpayers money. I mean, this is mean act of wickedness and human right violation at its most ugly display. Does this mean this is all democracy is all about? This is just to remind every individual citizen of this great country to be patient and continue to do whatever good you know how to do and don't you ever envy the evil doers because very soon you will look for them they will be no more but the length of the days of the faithful shall be increased with joy and peace, long life and prosperities

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  4. I don't know if presently it's horses or donkeys this so called members use to transport themselves to work or visitations to MDA. These selfish people shouldn't deceive Nigerians.Just recently the president elect of USA declared that he won't be taking president salary of about $400,000. This is an economy that's not even experiencing recession. Yet we have greedy, selfish and self centered individuals who under the disguise that they are working for the country needs those exotic vehicles.
    That amount of money could have been used to reduce or subsidise some current strain and needs of the Nigerian population.

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  5. Sorry the same group of thieves have asked us to buy made in naija products so I wonder if they use made in naija cars by innoson they will die na APC be all this oooooo

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