“It is unfair and fraudulent” – Suspended lawmaker condemns House of Reps’ N3.6bn car acquisitions
The House of Representatives’ acquisition of N3.6bn cars has been condemned as “unfair and fraudulent” by Abdulmumin Jibrin, the embattled lawmaker representing Kiru-Bebeji Federal Constituency, Kano State.
The House of Reps had defended the acquisitions as necessary in efficiently aiding their movements, but Jibrin who is on suspension by the House, accused Speaker Yakubu Dogara of lying that vehicles bought for lawmakers were meant for oversight activities.
“I followed with keen interest the condemnation by Nigerians of the purchase of cars for members of the House of Representatives by Speaker Dogara at such a difficult period of recession and the reckless and insensitive justification of such a monumental waste by the Speaker,” he said on Saturday night.
“It is an outright lie that the cars are needed for oversight as over 80 per cent of oversight activities of the House of Representatives are carried out in Abuja and in almost all instances, it is the MDAs that arrange buses to convey members from the premises of the House to the respective MDAs.”
Jubrin added, “Even if we assume that the cars are needed, it is unfair and fraudulent to further put additional N4bn into such wasteful venture, while at the same time members pocket about N10m monthly, an amount many members use to sponsor their lavish lifestyles and buy many exotic cars for their private use.
“Despite the monthly allowances and the purchases of these new cars, a special car allowance is yet again been arranged for members. The last I know before my illegal suspension was that the issue of another separate car allowance remained an outstanding entitlement of members with the Speaker giving continuous assurances to members that it would be paid.”
Jubrin further said the amount of money used to purchase the automobiles could have been used to cater for hospitals, schools, IDP camps, water supply, food production, payment to local contractors and support programme for women and youths.
