The Nigeria Labour Congress and its counterpart, the Trade Union Congress have thrown down the gauntlet to the Nigerian Senate over the procurement of 108 Toyota Land Cruiser SUV. The labour unions have told the Senate unequivocally to return the car of face the wrath of Nigerians.
The President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, said in a statement on Monday that the decision of the Senate to buy the luxury cars was reprehensible and indeed only showed that the lawmakers were greedy and insensitive to the current economic plight of Nigerians.
Wabba stated that the Senate’s action also bordered on crime as the unit cost of each of the 108 exotic cars was allegedly inflated by 100 per cent from the normal price of N17m to N35.1m.
The NLC president lamented that the Senate took a decision to acquire the controversial cars after taking a loan for the same purpose in August, 2015.
He said it was immoral for the Senate to acquire the expensive cars after admitting publicly that its standing committees could not carry out their duties because of lack of funds.
Wabba called on the relevant agencies to investigate the issues involved in the Senate’s acquisition of the 108 vehicles.
He stressed that Nigerians were interested in how the Senate got the money to buy the vehicles and why the Senate spent money which was not appropriated.
He said, “We consider it 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 per cent, as each car supposedly cost N35.1m instead of N17m.
“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 that 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.”
He wondered why the money spent in the acquisition of the cars could not be put to better use as constituency projects in the various constituencies of the lawmakers.
The labour leader condemned the Senate for opting to display such a curious level of luxury in the face of the severe economic challenges facing the country.
He described the response of the Senate’s spokesman, Sabi Abdulahi, that senators could use jeeps since the special advisers used them as childish and laughable.
The TUC said the action of the senators at a time the economy of the country was gasping for breath indicated that the lawmakers did not mean well for the country.
The President and Secretary of the TUC, Messrs Bala Kaigama and Simeso Amachree respectively, said in a statement on Monday that the senators had lost touch with the reality of the people who voted them into power.
TUC added, “It is an act of criminality to acquire cars after collecting loans for the same purpose. “Where did such idea emanate from for God’s sake at a time the country is bleeding from all sides and seriously gasping for breath? This is obviously a pointer to the fact that our Senators mean no well for the country. They have lost touch with the plight of the people that vote for them.
“We want the Senate to immediately furnish Nigerians and the world with how they got money for the purchase of these cars without appropriation.”
