Senate Gives Reason Why It Can Use N5.5 Billion To Buy Vehicles

By Editor

The Nigerian Senate has dismissed as futility the court initiated by some civil rights groups to stop it expending N5.5 billion on new cars for members saying that so long as junior officers in the executive use official cars that the Senators would also be entitled to it.

Senate spokesman, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye in fact said the court action was the work of detractors.

He spoke in reaction to the judicial action initiated by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT and Enough is Enough (EiE) to stop the Senate from expending N5.5 billion on official cars after receiving vehicle allowance as part of their entitlements.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Senator Adeyeye while claiming ignorance of the judicial action, nevertheless affirmed that there was nothing stopping the Senate from buying official cars given the claim that even junior officers in the administration use official vehicles.

“If the Senate is going to spend that (amount); if it is budgeted for, then it means it is purely legal.”

“So why will the National Assembly be different? Why are they focusing on the National Assembly and not looking at the Executive, Judiciary arms of government? All of these people are entitled to official cars and do use official cars.

“Directors of agencies, even minor officials in agencies use official cars. So why will the National Assembly be different? Why should it be a problem that the National Assembly is entitled to cars, to use official cars?

“Some of the vehicles they bought four years ago were no longer serviceable while others have probably been sold to their users.”

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