N5.5bn cars: Senators unjust to Nigerians – CACOL - - - - - - PM NEWS

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL has described the action of the principal members of the Ninth Assembly and other prominent government officials, proposing N5.5bn for the purchase of luxury cars as part of the obligation in discharging their duties as unjust and unfair to Nigerians.

In a release issued by its Media and Publications Officer, Toyin Odofin on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the Centre, Debo Adeniran said, “Spending a huge sum of N5.550 billion to buy luxury cars for principal members of the ninth Senate is unjust and unfair, it negates the constitutional oath of office made by members to perform their functions in the interest of the well-being and prosperity of Nigeria and its citizens, as contained in the Seventh Schedule of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

“This is the 20th year of this civil rule and this is called the ninth Assembly but we have not recorded much progress in terms of legislative morality, conscience, ethics and responsibility.”

Adeniran said, in a country faced with various economic challenges, the oversight function of the lawmakers shouldn’t be based on purchasing luxury cars.

The statement also noted that “the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT, Enough is Enough (EiE) and 6,721 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court to restrain the National Assembly (NASS) Service Commission from paying N5.550 billion budgeted for purchase of luxury cars for principal members of the ninth Senate, and to restrain the Senate from collecting the money until the downward review of the amount proposed by the Senate.

“The suit was filed on Friday at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, and Lagos by Kolawole Oluwadare and supported by an affidavit of urgency. However, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.”

The CACOL Boss added that “we must continue to denounce that action, because once we keep quiet, they like it and then go away believing that they have overwhelmed us.

“It’s condemnable and totally unacceptable, Nigerian people must not surrender on this issue, Adeniran urged.

An excerpt from PM News Nigeria