Lawmakers from the Labour Party in the National Assembly have defied the advice of their party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, regarding the collection of the luxury official vehicles planned for legislators.
Abure had issued a statement on Monday, alleging that the National Assembly leadership was preparing to purchase Sport Utility Vehicles valued at N160 million for each legislator.
He strongly criticized this purported plan, deeming it insensitive and condemnable, especially in light of the challenging economic circumstances facing the country.
Abure urged Labor Party lawmakers not to partake in what he perceived as extravagant spending.
However, on Thursday, when queried about whether Labor Party lawmakers would heed Abure’s advice, the representative for Delta Aniocha North and South, Ngozi Okolie, expressed reservations.
Okolie contended that Abure’s demands were unrealistic, primarily because he had not presented any viable alternatives for lawmakers to carry out their legislative duties.
The LP lawmaker said, “The SUVs are meant to aid our jobs as lawmakers, particularly as it relates to our oversight functions.
“Yes, he can say that the economy is struggling but having one official vehicle as federal lawmakers isn’t frivolous; it’s a necessity.”
Okolie noted that Nigerians were quick to attack lawmakers over things like this whereas politicians at the state level get more benefits than federal lawmakers.
He said, “Commissioners and House of Assembly members get up to two to three of such cars whereas National Assembly members are only getting one car each, yet he (Abure) is complaining and telling us not to collect it. Does he have any to give to us?
“Is he going to give us work tools to carry out our jobs or does he have an alternative for us? Has Abure told the members in his state in Edo, not to take the official vehicles given to them?”
The lawmakers continued by saying that purchasing the automobiles was less expensive than hiring one each time they needed to go on an inspection.
Another lawmaker from Enugu State’s Igbo Etiti and Uzo-Uwani constituencies, Stainless Nwodo, agreed that President Bola Tinubu deserved praise for sanctioning such vehicles for politicians.
Nwodo said, “National Assembly members should pray for the President and give him three ‘Gbosas’ for his magnanimity to the lawmakers.
“Nobody 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; because in the real sense, it is for the constituents.”
The lawmaker added, “I don’t want to believe the chairman of the party said so, because did he give us any vehicle to do our jobs?
“Attributing his reason to economic hardship is pure blackmail. In the first instance, the vehicle is for each constituency, not the personal vehicle for the members.
“Also, we need these SUVs to ply the bad roads in our constituencies when we need to visit them and deliver goodies to them. This is why the Speaker and the Senate President decided that SUVs are better to visit our constituencies.
“My own stance is that I will take the SUV and use it to deliver dividends to my constituents.”
On his part, the lawmaker representing Edo South Senatorial District, Neda Imasuen, said he would wait for the vehicles to arrive before making a decision.
Senator Imasuen said, “I’d urge you to wait until that happens, then we will revisit the issue. I wouldn’t want to count my chickens before they hatch.
“Labour Party has eight senators out of 109 and about 35 in the House of Representatives out of 360. So, I don’t know if it would make any difference if the lawmakers in the party take it or not.
“I don’t think telling them to take or reject would make any difference, I don’t think it would affect anything.
“Having said that, we haven’t been given any vehicle yet, but they said they would give.”
