Despite Cash Crunch Reps Members Receive 200 Exotic Vehicles Worth N6.1bn
http://ift.tt/2wyICqZ
LAGOS AUGUST 7TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Despite the present economic hardship, no fewer than 360 members of the House of Representatives are to take delivery of brand new exotic cars with the total cost N6.1bn, even when the non-payment of their salaries and other benefits had left most of the members without enough funds in the last one week.
As revealed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namda over 200 members had already been given Peugeot 508 series for “utility services, adding that all 360 lawmakers would have taken delivery of their cars by December 31.
“Each of the vehicles cost N17m and will consume a total of N6.1bn to supply all 360 units.” He said.
Namdas spoke further, “Over 200 have been supplied out of 360 and we are still getting more.
“Every member will get a car by the end of this year. The issue is that the payment and supply of the vehicle is being done in instalments.
“The House and the company (Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited) agreed to this arrangement of paying and supplying in installments.
“Naturally, not all the members can get their cars at the same time and we have explained to them why this cannot be possible.”
It would be recalled that at a meeting before proceeding on recess on July 27, lawmakers had reportedly put Dogara on the spot by demanding the sacking of the Chairman, Committee on House Services, Mr. Nasiru Baballe-Ila.
Baballe-Ila’s offence was that he “practically forced” the House to go for Peugeot 508 as against the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado or Camry, which the majority of lawmakers preferred.
Investigations showed that in the last few days, more supplies of the Peugeot 508 had been received, raising the number to “over 200.”
Asked to comment more on the issue, Namdas said part of the problem was funding challenges.
For example, he said some funding for the cars was included in the 2017 budget.
“You know that we have not started the implementation of the 2017 budget fully.
“You will appreciate the fact that payment for these cars will come from the budget. So, that issue too is there,” he added.
The PUNCH gathered that the supply of the 200 cars still did not address the problem of the non-payment of lawmakers, who are without their July salaries.
Lawmakers take a salaries of between N690,000 and N1.1m monthly, depending on how much deductions are made from a member’s pay to settle debts and other facilities.
In addition, they receive a quarterly allocation of between N27.9m and N33m.
But, a dip in flow of funds to the legislature in recent months and delays have led to cuts, affecting the pockets of the majority of members.
Investigations revealed that most of the members had stayed back in Abuja, one week after the National Assembly adjourned for six weeks.
They are said not to be in a hurry to visit their constituencies for now due to the cash crunch.
News Rangers http://ift.tt/2wyIDLz
via IFTTT
Short URL: https://newsrangers.com/?p=1299
Posted by News Rangers
on Aug 7 2017. Filed under State.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
