Reps confirm 360 SUVs bought for members, say they’re work tools

Reps confirm 360 SUVs bought for members, say they’re work tools

The House of Representatives has confirmed the procurement of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for the 360 members of the lower chamber worth over N50bn.

It said on Sunday that the vehicle are work tools not personal assets of the federal lawmakers.

The social media had been awash with reports that the leadership of the green chamber had bought SUVs for all members of the house.

Each of the SUVs is valued at N130 million, totalling over N50 billion for the purchase of the vehicles.

In a statement on Sunday, spokesperson for the House, Akin Rotimi, confirmed that the green chamber is in the “phased process of procuring and distributing operational vehicles to honourable members”.

He said the reports on the vehicle procurement “carry varying exaggerations”, adding that the vehicles are not personal gifts to the lawmakers.

He added that the vehicles remain the property of the national assembly within the four-year tenure of members of the house.

Rotimi said, “It is important to make a few clarifications. The vehicles to be allocated to the offices of honourable members are utility operational vehicles tied to their oversight functions in the discharge of their duties in the standing committees.

“They are not personal vehicles gifted to honourable members. For the duration of the 10th assembly (2023 – 2027), the vehicles shall remain the property of the national assembly.

“At the expiration of the tenure of the 10th assembly in 2027, should the extant assets deboarding policy of government still be in place, honourable members may have the option of making payment for the outstanding value of the vehicles to government coffers before they can become theirs, otherwise it remains the property of the national assembly.

“No matter how remote the location is, as long as there are Nigerian citizens living there, they deserve highly mobile representatives who can see first-hand what they are going through, and ensure government interventions, programmes, and policies are carried out effectively. This can only be possible with functional and reliable off-road vehicles.

“The vehicles are work tools and not status symbols — honourable members are diligent and patriotic elected representatives and not entitled.

“The anticipated allocation of vehicles will contribute to improved representation, constituency outreach and oversight functions.”