The House of Representatives has confirmed that the National Assembly is procuring and distributing utility Prado SUVs worth N130 million to lawmakers.

Rotimi Akin, the spokesman for the parliament, said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday night.

Mr Akin said the initiative aligned with existing procurement laws, adding that it was customary in previous assemblies. He said the distribution concerned vehicles tied to lawmakers’ oversight functions in discharging their duties within the standing committees, and they are not personal gifts.

“For the duration of the 10th assembly, spanning from 2023 to 2027, these vehicles will remain the property of the National Assembly,” explained the legislator. “However, should the government’s extant assets deboarding policy still be in place at the end of the assembly’s tenure in 2027, lawmakers may have the option to purchase the vehicles before they become their property.”

He emphasised the importance of the vehicles in enhancing the performance of lawmakers’ duties, especially when it comes to oversight functions in various regions of the country.

Mr Akin said the aim was to ensure that government interventions, programmes, and policies were effectively carried out, no matter where Nigerian citizens reside.

He highlighted the percentage of the legislature’s budget as part of the national budget, which had steadily decreased over the past decade, currently standing at 0.5 per cent of the federal budget.

Mr Akin urged stakeholders to focus on reducing costs in the right areas while supporting lawmakers to fulfil their duties effectively and with integrity.

He said the vehicles were work tools and not status symbols intended to facilitate improved representation, constituency outreach, and oversight functions by elected representatives.

(NAN)