The Senate has defended its plan to purchase sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for its members, despite the economic challenges in the country.
Sunday Karimi, the chairman of the committee on services, stated that the intention is to acquire vehicles that will remain serviceable for the next four years.
The National Assembly has faced criticism for its proposal to procure expensive vehicles for senators, especially in light of the removal of fuel subsidies, which has led to a significant rise in the cost of living.
Karimi mentioned that a careful analysis was conducted before the decision to order Land Cruiser SUVs for the senators.
“I said the decision that we took on using Land Cruiser is — you know they have exchanged the price analysis and other sections, including the cost and durability. Are you getting me?” he said.
“Before they came up with this, it was not the decisions of the senators alone, we analyzed arriving at Land Cruiser.
“If you go to state houses of assembly today, check out, most of them, before they were even inaugurated, the governor would have bought vehicles waiting for them. Even local government chairmen.
“I drove the vehicle my local government chairman uses, so why [not the] national assembly?
“The cost, let me tell you, hello, listen to me, you know I am the chairman service, when I came into the senate when they gave me their liability, they have a liability of over N16 billion that is made up of different things including vehicles of 7th assembly, 8th and 9th assembly.
“If you are a businessman and you supplied vehicles for somebody in 2014 or 2015 or so and up till now, they are owing you.”