Nigerian lawmakers are under scrutiny for their extravagant spending on luxury convoys despite a national economic crisis. Amid soaring inflation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other officials maintain fleets of luxury vehicles worth billions, in violation of financial guidelines established by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. Legal actions are underway to address the misuse of public funds, while calls for transparency and accountability in government spending intensify.
SPECIAL REPORT: Amid economic hardship, senior Nigerian lawmakers flaunt lavish lifestyles, spending enormous sums on luxury vehicles against a backdrop of severe inflation and food scarcity impacting millions of citizens. As the country is grappling with an inflation rate exceeding 28%, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abass, and their deputies are reportedly utilizing extravagant convoys at taxpayers’ expense, costing billions of naira.
Premium Times’ investigations reveal that Mr. Akpabio’s convoy includes 11 vehicles, notably two bulletproof 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, several Toyota Land Cruisers, and police power motorcycles, with individual vehicle costs reaching staggering amounts. Their deputies maintain similar fleets, raising the total expenditure for these convoys to over ₦7 billion, far exceeding the allowances set by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Past instances highlight systemic overspending among lawmakers, disregarding legislative financial guidelines. The RMAFC stipulates that lawmakers are only entitled to a car loan of 400% of their annual basic salary — a far cry from the luxury vehicles procured by the presiding officers. Legal actions led by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) are underway, seeking to curb this misuse of public funds.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has called for austerity, urging citizens to “tighten their belts” in light of new economic reforms. However, the National Assembly leadership appears unperturbed by the hardships faced by Nigerians, continuing their luxurious spending practices. The lawmakers’ lavish lifestyles starkly contrast the President’s directives aimed at reducing government costs.
Mboho Eno from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) condemned the insensitivity demonstrated by lawmakers amidst prevailing economic challenges, asserting that their actions reflect a disconnect with the hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians. Transparency measures such as public disclosures of tax returns for politicians have been proposed as potential solutions for accountability.
In response to inquiries regarding the size of his convoy, Mr. Akpabio’s media aide claimed that the senator travels in only one official vehicle. Nevertheless, observations indicate that his entourage comprises numerous cars, including multiple luxury options. Efforts to contact the Speaker Abass’s office for clarification went unanswered, highlighting the ongoing opacity surrounding the lawmakers’ spending habits.
In summary, the opulence displayed by Nigerian lawmakers amid significant national economic distress raises critical concerns about governance and prioritization of public resources. With extravagant spending on luxury vehicles contrary to financial guidelines, ongoing legal efforts seek to enforce accountability. The disconnect between legislative actions and public hardship illustrates the need for transparency in government spending and adherence to budgetary regulations to restore citizen trust.
Original Source: www.premiumtimesng.com
