House of Rep Confirms 360 Members Set To Receive Official Vehicles Worth N160 Million Each

House of Rep confirms 360 members will receive official utility vehicles said to be worth N160 million each.

House’s spokesperson said the utility vehicles to be distributed to members are official vehicles and not for personal use.

The House of Representatives has confirmed it is in phase of purchasing and distributing over 350 utility vehicles, to its members, said to be brand new 2023 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series SUVs and reportedly worth N160 million each.

In a statement on Sunday, October 15, the House’s spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, said the initiative aligned with existing procurement laws and that it was a customary practice in previous assemblies.

While debunking the news making rounds on the internet, the House’s spokesperson said that the vehicles to be distributed to members are official vehicles and not for personal use.

According to him :

“While many versions of this story carry varying exaggerations, we can confirm that the National Assembly bureaucracy is in the phased process of procuring and distributing operational vehicles to honourable members over the coming weeks and months.

“This development is in accordance with extant procurement laws and has been the practice in previous assemblies. It is also not peculiar to the Legislature, as unelected government officials in the Executive arm of government from the Director level and above, in most cases, have official vehicles attached to their offices.

“It is important to make a few clarifications. The vehicles to be allocated to the offices of honourable members are utility operational vehicles tied to their oversight functions in the discharge of their duties in the standing committees. They are not personal vehicles gifted to honourable members.

“For the duration of the 10th assembly (2023 – 2027), the vehicles shall remain the property of the National Assembly. At the expiration of the tenure of the 10th Assembly in 2027, should the extant assets deboarding policy of government still be in place, honourable members may have the option of making payment for the outstanding value of the vehicles to government coffers before they can become theirs, otherwise it remains the property of the National Assembly.

“The vehicles are work tools, and not status symbols – Honourable Members are diligent and patriotic elected representatives and not entitled. The anticipated allocation of vehicles will contribute to improved representation, constituency outreach and oversight functions.