Dishonorable Legislators

During the 8th Senate, under the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki, there was widespread outrage when a budget of N6.6 billion was approved for the purchase of cars by lawmakers. This budget exceeded the allocation for purchasing ammunition for the Nigerian Army in 2018 by N1.4 billion and was three times the budget for books and teaching aids in government-owned universities that same year.

Little did we realize that this was just the tip of the iceberg compared to the current situation. Recently, it was revealed that the 10th Senate, led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, budgeted, approved, and ordered SUVs for the National Assembly at a staggering cost of N57.6 billion.

The Nigerian National Assembly comprises 469 members, with 109 in the Senate and 360 in the House of Representatives. Astonishingly, none of the lawmakers or their political parties has rejected this largesse, even as Nigerians endure severe hardships and acute hunger in the midst of plenty. This reflects a distressing level of insensitivity to the plight of the people they are meant to represent. It’s particularly disheartening when smaller parties criticize the larger ones, as their quest for power often seems motivated by self-interest and the desire to exploit our shared heritage.

In a shocking turn of events, it was reported that lawmakers rejected more affordable Sedan and Salon cars in favor of expensive luxury SUVs. This rejection of cheaper vehicles for official duties violates the revenue package set by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). Regrettably, there appears to be no one willing to hold them accountable for this breach.

Even more shamelessly, Senator Sunday Karimi, the Chairman of the Committee on Senate Services, justified this extravagance by suggesting that all arms of government engage in such practices, including ministers who possess multiple official cars. This explanation is heartless, thoughtless, inconsiderate, and utterly dishonorable. Our senators should be problem solvers, not seekers of comfort and pleasure. Their disregard for the people’s plight is evident as they prioritize their own comfort while the masses sink deeper into poverty. This substantial sum of money could have been allocated to more meaningful endeavors, such as providing free JAMB exams for underprivileged students. The children of the less privileged travel the same dilapidated roads that the lawmakers refuse to address, while they often fly on chartered flights. Their excuse of poor road conditions is a feeble defense for their insensitivity.

The funds allocated for these luxury SUVs could have been channeled into the education sector, especially in light of the demands made by ASUU to stabilize our academic calendar. It raises the question: do the assembly members truly need luxurious cars to carry out their oversight functions, and couldn’t the government offer them car loans, as is done in the civil service?

Unfortunately, the issue of extravagant vehicle purchases for the National Assembly remains a recurring problem, surfacing with each new assembly, and there is no sign it will change unless we strengthen our institutions’ resolve to adhere to RMAFC’s credible recommendations.

This situation begs the question: should legislative roles in Nigeria be part-time jobs? The cost of running government in Nigeria surpasses our revenue, and it might be more reasonable for the government to provide car loans to lawmakers that can be deducted from their salaries. The lavish lifestyles of the legislative and executive branches are unsustainable, especially when they ask the struggling working population to endure. It is simply unacceptable.

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not represent the opinions or views of Osun Defender.