Outgoing NASS members grab 473 exotic cars as take away

As the 7th Assembly winds down on Friday, outgoing Senators and House of Representatives members will go home with the about 473 operational vehicles of the National Assembly currently in their possession.

Each senator has a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Jeep assigned to them for “operational” duties including the committee activities and oversight functions, while each House member has a 2011 model Toyota Camry attached to them for operational duties.

Apart from the operational vehicles, principal officers, including the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, have additional vehicles assigned to them.

But the Prado Jeeps and Camry are properties of the National Assembly that ought to have been left behind by the outgoing legislators.

It was gathered, that understanding of the management of the institution, the vehicles have been valued, taking note of the years of depreciation, to allow lawmakers who wish to go home with them to do so by paying 30 per cent of the purchase price.

Confirming the deal, an official of the National Assembly management, who sought anonymity, said that “The cars have been used for four years, so this valuation has taken cognisance of the years of depreciation. The vehicles are not taken away free of charge. As a matter of fact, it is optional.

“The deduction will be done from their severance package at source, which makes it easier. It is a practice that has been put in place over the years.”

It was also gathered that aside the operational vehicles, each of the senators, on resumption in 2011, was given 300 per cent of their total basic salaries as car loans and 300 per cent as housing allowance. About 250 per cent was advanced to them as furniture allowance.

Ripples…without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now