Project vehicles are for committee work —Nigeria Senate

THE Senate, on Sunday, dismissed reports by an online medium that it purposed to purchase vehicles for the use of members.

The upper chamber, however, said, the project vehicles to be purchased are meant for the execution of committee assignments.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate said the automobiles are part of the necessities which the institution usually provide to committees, to enable them to function without depending on external bodies for oversight functions.
“The vehicles are not meant for individual senators. They are purchased for the use of the committees.
“For those who may want to find out what happened to the ones bought in the past, we cannot expect that after four years, the vehicles will still be in the condition to effectively serve the present committees.
“The best practice in government institutions and even private organisations is for official vehicles allocated to top officials after four years of use to be sold at the depreciated value,” Abdullahi stated.
“We have been very frugal, responsive and responsible in our spending. We have also cut down on several expenses. However, there  are certain expenses and purchases that are normal in government and any organisation generally. The  legislature is not an exception,” he said.
“With respect to the official vehicles of the Senate President, it should be noted that majority of the vehicles in his convoy are his personal vehicles, while some of the vehicles that he inherited, including his official vehicles and the back up car, are so old that  they are already developing faults and not fit for long journey.  
“We can recall that on several occasions, his official car broke down.
“Three instances will suffice. On a visit to Nasarawa State for a wedding of the daughter of a colleague. Other occasions were at the National Mosque three weeks ago and at the Abuja airport.
“The implication is that the vehicles in his official convoy are so old that they are already causing embarrassment for the Senate. The media should know that a man of his antecedent will not at this point be excited with purchase of new cars. His official cars are really long overdue for replacement,” the statement added.
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