Despite economic recession, House of Reps members order delivery of N3.6bn exotic cars

An economic recession that has swept over the country hasn’t stopped members of House of Representatives from ordering N3.6bn worth of 360 exotic cars.

At least 28 of the 360 budgeted Peugeot 508 cars, put at a unit price of N10m, have been delivered to some lawmakers in Abuja as at last week.

PUNCH reports that the first 28 were among the first batch of 50 cars that will be supplied by the Kaduna-based Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited.

“Fifty cars will be supplied in the first batch; 28 have already been delivered. That was last week,” a top National Assembly source confirmed to the publication.

“Twenty-two more in the first batch are expected to be delivered this week.”

The choice of car had initially caused a minor discord among the lawmakers, with some advocating for the 2016 Toyota Camry, before a decision to settle for ‘Made-in-Nigeria products’ was agreed upon.

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Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, defended the lawmaker’s expensive acquisitions despite the hard times Nigeria’s economy is experiencing by saying, “This issue of cars is long overdue. They are not for luxury but for committee and oversight duties. The 8th Assembly is nearing two years, yet members have no cars to carry out their duties,” he said.

“Ministers and other officials in the executive have long bought vehicles for official duties. At the state level, members of House of Assembly have cars to carry out basic functions.

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“I think it is only fair that members of the National Assembly will have utility vehicles for their assignments.”

At the end of every lawmaker’s tenure, they are entitled to leave with their respective cars, provided they pay a fraction of the unit cost. Asides the cars that have been simply described as ‘utility’ or ‘committee’ vehicles, the lawmakers also get a repayable loan to buy personal cars.

President Muhammadu Buhari is still locked in talks with the National Assembly to approve external borrowing plan of $30 billion to execute key infrastructural projects across the country.

Payment for the vehicles is expected to be spread over a period of 24 months or “two years’ budget.”