As the heat over the decision by the Senate to buy 108 SUV for its members gathers momentum, the House of Representatives has
ordered for 360 cars worth N3.6 billion even as many Nigerians suffer severe economic hardship. Nigerian House of Representatives The House of Representatives has settled for Peugeot 508 as official vehicles for the 360 members at a total cost of N3.6 billion, Daily Trust reports.
According to the report, each vehicle costs N10 million and delivery will be made in two to three months. Last night that the House had already given Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) a letter of intent to supply the cars.
The report further states that the committee on House services, which is saddled with the responsibility of processing the purchase of the vehicles, met yesterday and took the final decision on the vehicles, it was learnt. The cars are ostensibly intended for committee work. There are 96 standing committees in the House, but the cars would be shared in such a manner that each member would get one.
Initially the House had wanted to buy Camry 2016 model, but the members changed their minds to avoid clash of interest because the sole major distributors of Camry in Nigeria, Vatswani Brothers, were under an investigation by the House. The source said the National Assembly tenders’ board would meet this week on the matter and the cars might be supplied within the next few months.
The spokesman of the House Rep Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa) confirmed that it was true that the House had settled on Peugeot 508 at the cost of N10 million each. He said they decided to settle for a Nigerian company in order to boost the company’s revenue base, adding that the vehicles would be supplied between the next two and three months.
Namdas insisted that the vehicles would be for committee activities and not for the personal use of the lawmakers. This is coming at a time many Nigerians are groaning and crying of severe economic hardship and suffering.
It would be recalled that the Senate had started taking delivery of 108 Toyota Land Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) it ordered for members at the cost of N3.8 billion.
Thirty six of the vehicles, which cost N35.1 million each, were delivered last Tuesday and distributed to senators the following day.
The Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress have asked the Senators to immediately return the cars to avoid clash with the masses.
