The Senate has justified the purchase of a 2023 model of the Toyota Landcruiser for members at the contract price of about one hundred and sixty million naira each.
Dailytrust gathered that recent purchase of the SUV vehicle is in addition to the bullet proof vehicles being purchased for Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Barau Jibrin.
Reacting, the Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) said procuring SUVs for federal lawmakers was provocative at a time that most families can barely feed their members three square meals per day, and hospitals and roads are collapsing rapidly across the country.
However, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to stop the National Assembly from procuring and taking delivery of exotic and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials pending the hearing and determination of the applications for injunction filed by the organization.
But the Red Chamber defended the purchase of the SUVs, saying lawmakers needed the vehicles for their operations. Briefing reporters at the National Assembly, Abuja, the chairman, Committee on Senate services, Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi) said the criticism was uncalled for as members of the other arms of government use similar vehicles. He urged critics to beam their search light on ministers and members of state assemblies.
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