President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday carpeted the National Assembly for approving N4.7billion for the purchase of cars for themselves, amidst the current cash crunch biting the country.
Recall that in the N6.08trillion 2016 budget submitted to the National Assembly last week, Buhari said his administration will borrow over N1.8trillion to finance next year’s budget due to tight finances of government worsened by soft oil prices.
In his maiden presidential media chat since assuming office on May 29, President Buhari criticised the federal lawmakers for approving the purchase of the cars insensitive on the part of the National Assembly to purchase the cars, having collected car loans, months after their inauguration on June.
A senator had disclosed that they were given N8m each for the purchase of cars in August.
“We were given three allowances in August this year, all amounting to N18million: car loan, furniture and housing allowances”, the senator who spoke on condition of anonymity stated.
But the President who criticised the legislators for the new proposal, said he turned down a N400million car proposal for the Presidency, noting that the cars in his fleet are good enough for 10 years.
“I have to hold a closed-door meeting with the National Assembly regarding the cars they are trying to buy. I hope they haven’t bought them yet. They can’t buy cars for themselves and also take money in car loans,” he said.
The Senate had recently confirmed that it ordered some vehicles but said they were meant for committees and not individual senators.
An online medium had reported that the legislators ordered SUV cars that would gulp N4.7bn.
But in a swift response, the Senate said the proposed cars were not meant for individual senators but for the execution of committee assignments.
In a statement by its spokesman, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the upper chamber said the vehicles were part of the necessities which the institution usually provide committees to enable them function without depending on external bodies for effective performance of oversight functions.
