National Assembly Lawmakers Set To Leave Office With 109 Jeeps & 360 Exotic Cars

Members of the House of Representatives and Senators is leaving their offices with the operational vehicles of the National Assembly currently in their possession as the 7th Assembly winds down on Friday. Each of the 109 senators has a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado assigned to them for operational purposes. While the Rep members has a total of 360 Toyota Camry 2011 model 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.

The Prado jeeps and Camry are properties of the National Assembly that should have ordinarily been left behind by the departing legislators. According to the management of the legislature, 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. The money is to be deducted from the severance package of the senators and the House members.

Findings showed that in line with the arrangement, the Prado jeeps, valued at the market price of about N9 million, would be given away to senators for around N2.7 million. In the same vein, members of the House will each part with about N1.9 million to go home with the Camry, valued at N6.5 million.

An official of the National Assembly management, who confirmed the deal in Abuja on Tuesday, said,

“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 and as a matter of fact, it is optional. A lawmaker who does not want to go with the vehicle will submit it to the National Assembly and it will be so documented. The deduction will be done from their severance package at source, which makes it easier. It is a practice that has been on over the years.”

However, the Deputy House Majority Leader, Leo Ogor, confirmed that the operational vehicles would be taken away but certainly not for free.

“I don’t know what the amount will be; but I know that the cars are not for free. The management of the National Assembly will work it out and communicate to members accordingly”, he stated.

Source: Punch