Victor Ezeja
AdminFollowing widespread criticisms over the insensitivity of the 360 House of Representatives members receiving official SUVs worth N160 million apiece at a time Nigerians are facing austerity measures, the Labour Party (LP) has asked its lawmakers to reject such largesse, warning that they will be held responsible if they failed to live above board or properly account for the electoral investment reposed in them.
LP National Chairman, Julius Abure accused the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu of displaying a concerning lack of sensitivity, stressing that the bloated Federal Executive Council has 48 ministers, who were “each given three luxurious four-wheel drive vehicles on the first day in office, paid for and fueled by taxpayers.”
This, according to him, is notwithstanding hundreds of presidential and ministerial aides, as well as numerous aides to the political appointees who are being funded by the government.
With the purchase of the Japanese automobiles costing Nigerian taxpayers N57.6 billion, Abure condemned the Federal Government for choosing extravagance when most Nigerians are grappling with poverty and wondered why the government did not think it wise to patronize local vehicle manufacturing companies even if to stimulate the economy.
Abure pointed out that the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, meant putting Nigeria first when he campaigned on moving the country’s economy from consumption to production.
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His words: “A few days ago, the news filtered that 360 members of the House of Assembly are to be gifted with vehicles worth about N160 million each. The Labour Party is indeed shocked, saddened and disappointed at the level of insensitivity being displayed by the executive and the legislative arms of the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress administration.
“It is saddening that with deepening poverty among Nigerians the administration has decided to increase its appetite for a life of opulence to mock hardworking but underprivileged Nigerians.
“How else can any Government justify the bloated Federal Executive Council of 48 cabinet ministers, with each of them given three luxurious four-wheel drive vehicles on the first day in office, paid for and fueled by taxpayers? This is notwithstanding hundreds of presidential and ministerial aides, as well as numerous aides to the aides who are being funded by the government.
“These vehicles will be costing Nigerians about N57.6 billion and this is happening at a time when the government claims it cannot afford to increase the minimum wage of N30,000 monthly to workers.
“A bag of 50 kg rice is today N50,000 and most families can’t afford two square meals a day; how insensitive can a Government become? This same government is still going around the world cap in hand, seeking for loans, what a shame!
“As things stand today, inflation is likely to hit 30 per cent by December 2023, yet all they are concerned about is the comfort of a privileged few who found themselves in public office.
“Why spend so much money on the import of and purchase of vehicles from other nations amidst the scarcity of needed foreign exchange for manufacturing? Why not empower local manufacturers such as Innoson Motor in Anambra and Peugeot Automobiles in Kaduna to save forex and boost our local economy?
“When our Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, said we in the Labour Party want to move the economy from consumption to production, this is what we mean – Nigeria first!
“We implore this government to in the interest of our dear nation retrace its steps and give priority to revamping the economy instead of its current obsession with luxury living.
“We are also calling on the Labour Party legislators in the 10th Assembly to kick against this unnecessary wastage of resources in line with the ideology of the party which is social justice and equal opportunity for all. Nigerians will hold them responsible if they fail to live above board or give proper account of the electoral investment reposed in them.
“Nigerians are fed up with the status quo and they crave for a different leadership that must factor in the interest of the suffering masses. The poor must be allowed to breathe again in this country,” read the statement Abure issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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