Photo: naijanews.com
The Nigerian Senate has come under heavy fire from civil society groups after reports that it plans on spending the equivalent of $15.3 million on new, luxury cars for principal officers.
Nigeria represents Africa’s biggest economy and posts the world’s highest economic growth rate, according to figures released by the government. That said, almost half of the country’s population continues to live in extreme poverty, so spending millions on luxury cars does seem too excessive.
Especially when cheaper alternatives exist and get the job done just as well.
According to CNN, a coalition of civil society groups is suing the Senate for the plans to buy the luxury cars, in the hope that a judge would block the purchase. They call the plan unjust and unfair, and in direct contradiction to the oath lawmakers take upon taking up office, to work for the welfare of the people. Riding around in expensive vehicles doesn’t fit the bill.
A spokesperson for the Senate would not confirm the amount reportedly budgeted for this, but it is believed to be of 5.550 billion naira (US $15.3 million). However, the spokesperson insists that all public officials get official cars, so why shouldn’t lawmakers too?
“Directors of agencies, even minor officials in agencies use official cars. So why will the National Assembly be different?” he says. “Why should it be a problem that the National Assembly is entitled to cars, to use official cars?”
The question of getting official cars was never the issue, though, but rather their high price. Lawmakers can still get around to and from work if they’re riding in cheaper vehicles. “They can have official cars but why would they spend such an amount buying cars for 109 Senators when more than half of Nigerians are living in abject poverty,” the group's spokesman Kola Oludare tells CNN.
A 2013 study by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) shows that Nigerian lawmakers have the highest salaries in the world, in addition to benefits like car allowances. At the same time, those living in extreme poverty have to make do with $1.90 a day.
Especially when cheaper alternatives exist and get the job done just as well.
According to CNN, a coalition of civil society groups is suing the Senate for the plans to buy the luxury cars, in the hope that a judge would block the purchase. They call the plan unjust and unfair, and in direct contradiction to the oath lawmakers take upon taking up office, to work for the welfare of the people. Riding around in expensive vehicles doesn’t fit the bill.
A spokesperson for the Senate would not confirm the amount reportedly budgeted for this, but it is believed to be of 5.550 billion naira (US $15.3 million). However, the spokesperson insists that all public officials get official cars, so why shouldn’t lawmakers too?
“Directors of agencies, even minor officials in agencies use official cars. So why will the National Assembly be different?” he says. “Why should it be a problem that the National Assembly is entitled to cars, to use official cars?”
The question of getting official cars was never the issue, though, but rather their high price. Lawmakers can still get around to and from work if they’re riding in cheaper vehicles. “They can have official cars but why would they spend such an amount buying cars for 109 Senators when more than half of Nigerians are living in abject poverty,” the group's spokesman Kola Oludare tells CNN.
A 2013 study by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) shows that Nigerian lawmakers have the highest salaries in the world, in addition to benefits like car allowances. At the same time, those living in extreme poverty have to make do with $1.90 a day.
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