Concerns are mounting among Nigerian citizens as the National Assembly announces plans to purchase and distribute 360 luxury Prado Jeeps valued at over 130 million Naira to lawmakers. What has further stirred public outcry is the revelation that these extravagant vehicles will be acquired through loans from international banks, in a nation already grappling with economic hardship.
Rep. Rotimi Akin, the spokesperson for the House of Representatives, confirmed this controversial move in a statement issued on Sunday night. He emphasized that the procurement of these Prado Jeeps is in line with existing laws and customs in previous assemblies. Akin argued that these vehicles are not personal gifts but rather intended to support lawmakers in their oversight functions within the standing committees.
"The distribution concerns vehicles associated with lawmakers' oversight functions in the discharge of their duties within the standing committees, and they are not personal gifts," Rep. Akin clarified. "For the duration of the 10th assembly, spanning from 2023 to 2027, these vehicles will remain the property of the National Assembly."
Akin defended the acquisition, asserting that these Prado Jeeps are work tools and not symbols of status. The intent behind providing such vehicles, according to him, is to facilitate improved representation, enhance constituency outreach, and support the critical oversight functions carried out by elected representatives.
However, many Nigerians are expressing their dismay over the decision to secure such costly vehicles through borrowed funds, given the prevailing economic challenges in the country. This move is reigniting the ongoing debate about government spending and resource allocation, raising questions about the prioritization of public funds in the face of pressing issues like infrastructure, healthcare, and education. The fate of this procurement and its potential impact on the nation's fiscal responsibility remains a topic of heated discussion among the populace.
