Reps Buy N6.1bn Cars As Nigerians Languish In Recession

Amid the scourge of long-standing recession, the House of Representatives has earmarked N6.1 billion for the acquisition of new Peugeot 508 cars for all 360 members of the House.

This was according to spokesperson of the House, Abdulrazak Namdas, who told newsmen that no fewer than 200 lawmakers had already taken deliveries of their cars at the cost of N17 million each.

Namdas said although the House had earlier estimated each car to cost N10 million, but that it was forced to increase the budget of each unit to N17 million due to foreign exchange crisis.

“Over 200 cars have been supplied out of 360, and we are still getting more. Every member will get their car by the end of this year.

“The payment for the vehicle is being done in instalments,” said spokesperson.

The WHISTLER reports that the purchase of the new cars is coming at a time workers across several Nigerian states are still being owed salaries despite the release of N388.304 billion as second tranche of the Paris Club Refund by the Federal Government.