A culture of frivolity: government excessive pay and N57.6 billion SUVs

As elected officials increasingly prioritise convenience over accountability, DIRISU YAKUBU scrutinises the recent acquisition of high-end vehicles for federal legislators.

Advocates of prudent resource management must have been extremely concerned about Nigeria’s declining revenues over the past few weeks. Over the course of the last ten years, human existence has mirrored the dire predictions of Thomas Hobbes regarding a state of nature in which life is brutish, foul, and brief.

Sunday PUNCH reports that during the latter part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and the entire eight-year regime of former President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), Nigerians endured unfathomable hardships, including an increase in violent campaigns by bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers that resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and properties.

It came as no surprise that Nigerians jubilant over the conclusion of Buhari’s presidency, as many of them eagerly anticipated the dawn of a new era of opportunities. Despite the fact that the February 25 presidential election did not meet the expectations of all Nigerians, millions of citizens anticipated a fundamental change in the way President Bola Tinubu conducted himself in office, specifically with regard to the behaviour of elected officials.

President Tinubu, who assumed office a few weeks after his predecessor, declared the elimination of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit, more commonly referred to as petrol. He urged Nigerians to endure the hardships of this decision, which he claimed would ensure an improved standard of living. As of the time this report was filed, motorists have paid a range of N534 per litre to approximately N630 per litre for petrol since June 2023, when the policy went into effect.

However, the price of N640 per litre is exclusive to inhabitants of major cities such as Abuja and Lagos; in other regions, consumers are required to pay as much as N750 for the same product. This development has significantly disrupted the quality of life in the country. While the administration led by Tinubu has implemented some alleviating measures, the task of commuting from residences to workplaces in the Federal Capital Territory and certain states of the federation continues to be an enormous one.

President Tinubu, cognizant of the repercussions of industrial action, sanctioned an increase in the monthly salaries of government employees. However, given the double-digit inflation rate that characterises the economy, this intervention seems negligible at best. Consequently, it would have been reasonable to anticipate that a government that initially demanded that its citizens endure the burden of its policies would demonstrate leadership through its selfless service to the country.

Legislators are reportedly on the verge of receiving brand new 2023 models of the Toyota Land Cruiser and Prado Sports Utility Vehicles, which will cost the nation a minimum of N57.6 billion. This information only recently surfaced in the media.

Sunday Karimi, chairman of the Committee on Senate Services, reminded Nigerians that ministers own more automobiles than legislators in the wake of the development’s criticisms: “A minister owns more than three Land Cruisers, Prados, and other vehicles, and you are not questioning them? Why us?

“The automobiles that are visible currently traverse the roads of Nigeria.” Our roads in my senatorial district are terrible; whenever I return home, I end up spending a fortune on my vehicles. I stated that the cost and durability of the Land Cruiser influenced our decision to utilise it. The senators’ decision is not final; we conducted an analysis prior to selecting Land Cruisers. Are you following me when I say that it was determined by comparing the cost of technical issues and the durability of roads in Nigeria?

“We desire something that we can maintain for an additional four years, and purchasing vehicles for the National Assembly is a recurring concern.” It transpires in each Assembly; it will inevitably resurface.”

Further, the lawmaker stated, “If you visit state Houses of Assembly today, the governor would have purchased vehicles in advance for the majority of them, including local government chairmen, even before they were inaugurated.” “Since I operated the vehicle utilised by the chairman of my local government, why the National Assembly?”

However, he further stated that the federal parliament’s debt to the suppliers influenced the price of the vehicles. “I am the Chairman of Senate Service,” he declared. Upon my induction into the Senate, I was presented with their liability, which exceeded N16 billion and was comprised of various vehicles from the 7th, 8th, and 9th Assemblies.

Similarly, Akin Rotimi, a spokesman for the House of Representatives, justified the acquisition of the vehicles by stating that the work of legislators will be significantly improved upon the arrival of these mobile marvels, as stated in a statement supporting the purchase.

“Honourable members are elected representatives who are conscientious and patriotic.” The expected distribution of vehicles will facilitate enhanced constituent outreach, representation, and oversight responsibilities. Regarding the distribution of vehicles to distinguished members, the House of Representatives is monitoring a trending topic across multiple traditional and online media. Given the understandable level of public interest that this issue has generated, we believe that Nigerians are entitled to feedback from their elected representatives.

“Although there are differing accounts that include embellishments, we can affirm that the National Assembly bureaucracy is systematically acquiring and allocating operational vehicles to distinguished members in the future weeks and months. This progression is in accordance with established procurement regulations and has been the norm in prior assemblies. “Moreover, this is not unique to the Legislature; in the majority of cases, unelected officials at the director level and above in the executive branch have official vehicles attached to their offices,” he had stated, adding that the vehicles were not private belongings as the public was being misinformed.

“Utility operational vehicles that are connected to the oversight functions of the honourable members in the course of carrying out their responsibilities in the standing committees shall be assigned to their offices.” These automobiles are not personal gifts to distinguished members. During the tenth assembly (2023-2027), the vehicles shall continue to be under the ownership of the National Assembly.

“Should the government’s current assets deboarding policy remain in effect at the conclusion of the 10th Assembly in 2027, distinguished members may be granted the opportunity to remit payment to the government for the remaining value of the vehicles prior to their transfer; otherwise, the vehicles shall continue to belong to the National Assembly,” he further elaborated.

Notwithstanding these clarifications, notable Nigerians have persisted in criticising federal legislators for their failure to exhibit selfless representation during a period when ordinary Nigerians are struggling to manage the difficulties of daily life. They contend that the commitment to a fundamental change in approach has already been thwarted by the acquisition of vehicles, the expense of which could have been used to establish prosperous industries addressing the widespread unemployment in the country.

Mike Ozekhome, a constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, refrained from using unprintable language when discussing the decision to acquire the exotic vehicles during a telephone conversation with our correspondent.

“The decision is abhorrent, insensitive, provocative, derogatory, and a political rascal,” he declared.

Former Arewa Consultative Forum Secretary General Anthony Sani remarked that by following this course of action, the legislators had violated the confidence of the constituents who had elected them to represent them.

“The exorbitant cost of SUVs purchased for members of the National Assembly implies that the members lack awareness or compassion for the severe economic challenges that the majority of Nigerians are currently facing.” This is due to the fact that members are not required to maintain a higher quality of living than the citizens they claim to represent.

“The practise of purchasing vehicles for individual members undermines the government’s monetization policies.” Official transportation for National Assembly members and ministers is restricted to vehicles from the common fleet.

“The act of purchasing vehicles for ministers and members of parliament lends credence to the notion that no group of Nigerians is more isolated from the harsh economic environment, more shielded from the repercussions of their inactions, and more remunerated for their shortcomings than those in public office,” he continued.

Jide Ojo, a public affairs commentator and newspaper columnist, concurs with others: “The actions taken by federal legislators exhibited a profound disregard for the plight of the Nigerian populace. Which of them did not arrive at the National Assembly without luxurious and exotic automobiles? Why are they making comparisons to ministers who are executive branch members without tenure in office? They may resign and advocate for their appointment as ministers if they desire to be regarded as such. Because of the ostentatious lifestyles of our political officials, the cost of governance has become exorbitant. This development is deeply regrettable and emotionally distressing.”

Abdul Mahmud, a constitutional lawyer and pro-democracy activist, speaks out against the legislative and executive branches of government, characterising them as a collection of insensitive officials who have little to no understanding of the contemporary challenges Nigerians face.

His words: “What I find most perplexing is that our government, and its leaders in both the legislative and executive branches, do not comprehend the magnitude and scope of the economic crisis that our nation is currently experiencing. The situation is being exacerbated, in my opinion, by an unrealistic understanding of the magnitude and scope of the crisis.

“As a result of the massive oil theft occurring in the Niger Delta, oil revenues have decreased significantly, and the economy is teetering on the brink of imminent collapse.” The government has experienced a decline in public expenditure receipts for social services, which are non-existent to begin with. In addition, as of September 2023, the spiralling inflation rate is 26.7 percent, and it is anticipated that this figure will continue to increase through October. All of this strongly indicates that the naira is on its last legs.

“In light of this gloomy circumstance, the National Assembly has acquired SUVs for each lawmaker at a cost of N160 million.” One might inquire as to why they are oblivious to the fact that the economy has collapsed.

With a budget deficit of N4.63tn as of July 2022, the government’s proposal to allocate N4.99tn for personnel costs in 2023, and capital expenditures amounting to N5.35tn, the action undertaken by the parliament today is befitting a nation that has degenerated into a haven for the insane. In our nation, young people sarcastically refer to our legislators as “werey disguised” individuals – those who merely adorn the asylum when they should be fortifying the country against its descent into abyss.

In a sense, the culture of prolificacy appears to have become entrenched, as government officials continue to ignore the demands of civil society organisations for cost reduction. Despite the significance attributed to the visits to senatorial districts and constituencies, these legislators possess the financial means to chauffeur their vehicles to any region of the nation. Given that a significant number of them possess a minimum of twelve automobiles, the unfortunate Nigerian taxpayers ought to have been exempted from yet another unnecessary expense.

Prior to the controversy that surrounded the legislators’ extravagant vehicle purchases, the issue had been their inflated salaries. Legislators have been accepting monthly salaries amounting to millions of naira despite the fact that the national minimum wage is set at N30,000. This inexplicable profit is causing a significant void in the nation’s coffers.

Federal lawmakers embroiled in the controversies have not changed their stances, as they continue to accept jumbo pay and have begun to accept delivery of the pricey SUVs, despite the fact that the elimination of fuel subsidies has rendered the purchasing power of many Nigerians null and void.