Finally, Senate speaks on purchase of exotic jeeps for N36.5m each
– The Senate has clarified its decision to buy 36 Sport Utility Vehicles for members of the upper chamber
– The Upper chamber stated that the money used to purchase the vehicles is from its 2015 budget
– Senator Abdullahi Gobir, described as untrue, reports that claim senators collected car loans
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, April 19, justified its decision to buy 36 Sport Utility Vehicles for senators just as it clarified that the money came from its 2015 budget, The Punch reports.
Senator Abdullahi Gobir, the chairman, committee on Senate services, disclosed this in an interview with journalists. He also described as untrue, reports that claim senators collected car loans, shortly after inauguration of the 8th Senate.
READ ALSO: Tension in Senate as distribution of exotic cars divides senators
According to him, each of the senators from the 36 states, who are either chairman or vice-chairman of committees, got a vehicle, with the understanding of their two other colleagues.
Gobir also put the value of each of the Land Cruiser VXR V8 vehicles at N36.6m including the cost of purchase, and other taxes.
He said: “I would like to say that the issue that we bought 108 cars is totally wrong, It is not correct. We bought 36 cars. These 36 cars because each senator in each state is either a Chairman or a Vice Chairman and we gave one car to each state.
“We don’t have money to buy 108 cars. On the issue of buying cars without appropriation. This is totally wrong because this has been appropriated for in the 2015 budget. So we used what we have in the 2015 budget to buy the 36 cars so that it can go round to each state.
READ ALSO: House of Reps stops plan to buy 360 exotic cars
“We are supposed to buy 109 cars but because of the paucity of funds, because of our sensitivity and concern for lack of funds we bought only 36 to go round per state.”
In another development, it seems that the secret distribution of the first batch of the brand new 108 Sport Utility Vehicles to 36 senators on Thursday, April 14 has started generating ill-feelings among members of the upper chamber.
A senator who pleaded anonymity, on Sunday, April 17, said that only identified members of the pro-Saraki’s Like Minds Senators were favoured in the distribution of the vehicles.
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