Senate inflated cost of cars for members – NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday said the Senate leadership inflated the unit cost of the Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps it procured for Senators by over 100 percent, demanding that the cars be returned immediately to the suppliers.

The NLC also accused the Senate of spending money without appropriation when it publicly admitted that its standing committees cannot carry out their functions due to paucity of funds.

In a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja and signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the congress said while the senate purchased each of the cars for N35.1 million, the actual market price of the vehicles stands at N17 million.

The NLC said the Senate should prepare for a show down with Nigerian workers, civil society organisations, women groups and students if they fail to return the vehicles to the suppliers.

The statement reads: “We consider appalling, insensitive and greedy the decision of the Senate to acquire 108 Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps (one for each member less the Senate President) after collecting car loans in August last year for the same purpose.

“It is equally morally despicable and shameful that they are doing this after publicly admitting that the standing committees of the Senate are unable to perform their statutory functions due to paucity of funds.

“We at the Nigeria Labour Congress equally consider it a willful and grievous criminal act, the inflation of the unit cost of each of the cars by over a 100 percent, as each car supposedly cost N35.1 million instead of N17 million.

“Aside from this, Nigerians are keen to know from where they got money for the purchase of these cars without appropriation.

“The defence offered by the Senate spokesperson, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, is laughable and childish. According to him, Special Advisers use jeeps, why not Senators or do Nigerians expect them to trek to work? And in any case, cars are capital projects!

“Couldn’t this have been put to better uses such as the constituency projects of these same Senators?  At a time with severe economic challenges and deepening poverty in the land, can the Senate afford this level of reckless luxury and arrogance?

“The answer is, “No.”

“Their multiple acts of criminality, ranging from acquiring these cars after previously taking loans for the same purpose, spending money without appropriation and over inflating costs constitute not just corruption but a crime against the Nigerian people whom they claim to represent.

“Accordingly, we demand they return those cars to whoever supplied them or the appropriate agencies prosecute them for corruption. In the event none of this happens, they should be prepared to keep a date with Nigerian workers and their civil society allies including market women and students. No one is above the law.”