Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have taken delivery of the first batch of their luxury Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs).
Senators will also take delivery of their first batch during the week.
The National Assembly leadership had announced the purchase of exotic vehicles worth N160 million each for a lawmaker and bulletproof vehicles for principal officers.
The SUVs for each of the 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives are estimated at N57.6 billion.
The development has caused public outrage in view of the huge debt burden and at a time when an unprecedented number of Nigerians live in poverty.
Members of the public also cried out about the needless luxury when social infrastructure especially in the education sector and grossly underfunded.
Speaking with The Punch, the spokesman for the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, confirmed members of the House had started taking delivery of the vehicles.
He revealed that priority was given to women in the parliament, people with any form of disability and the elderly.
Rotimi stated only members who have fully disposed of their court cases will be given the vehicles, adding that the last batch of SUVs for lawmakers will arrive before December.
He said, “Some members have started taking delivery of their vehicles. Priority was given to women in the parliament, people with any form of disability and the elderly.
“The management has also ensured that only members who have been fully disposed of their court cases will be given the vehicles to avoid problems.”
Also speaking, a member of the Green Chamber, who pleaded anonymity, noted that the management was very keen on members justifying the use of the vehicle for their legislative operations.
He noted that the management had issued a circular to members not to sell any of the vehicles, stating clearly that it was the property of the National Assembly.
He said, “This particular Assembly is very particular about things being done right. In previous assemblies, people would collect their vehicles and sell them off, but the Speaker has put his foot down against such.
“The spokesperson was mandated to issue a statement internally to members and ensure that no member must sell their vehicles as they are National Assembly property.
“Beyond the circular, the management is seriously following up, particularly to justify the purchase, because the vehicles were bought to give lawmakers a level of autonomy from the executive.”
A top-level source told The Punch that the vehicles will arrive in three batches for the use of the committee chairmen and members in performing their duties.