Condemnation has continued to trail the decision of the national assembly to import utility Prado Jeeps, worth N160 million to lawmakers and the latest has come from Former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof Kingsley Moghalu.
Sharing his thought on what many Nigerians tag misplaced priority and extravagant spending, Moghalu said he would not allow any government official to drive an imported vehicle if he were the president of Nigeria.
He added that Nigerian politicians should invest in local vehicles instead of foreign-made ones. This conspicuous public spending by the federal legislature is coming at a time when the federal government is set to borrow another $1.5billion from the World Bank for budget support. Now, SUVs worth N160million each are purportedly to be bought for 360 members of the House of Representatives.
The decision of the National assembly to purchase the exotic vehicles was revealed in a statement by Akin Rotimi, the Chairman, House Committee of Media and Public Affairs.
“For the duration of the 10th Assembly, 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,” Rotimi said on Sunday.
In the post made on his X handle on Monday, Moghalu asserted that it is a display of patriotic leadership and commitment to reduce the cost of governance.
He said, “If I were President of Nigeria or Governor of a State, no government official will drive a foreign-made vehicle at government expense (procurement) when we have local alternatives.
“That is one demonstration of patriotic leadership and commitment to cutting the cost of governance.”
