TUC Blasts National Assembly Over Plans To Buy 469 Cars

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has berated the National Assembly for allegedly planning to purchase 469 vehicles for both members of the Senate and House of Representatives at a time the nation was experiencing cash crunch.

The TUC said the plan to buy the vehicles was a misplaced priority, expressing pains that the lawmakers did not read the mood of the nation or have an idea of the task before them and the country.

The congress in a statement by its President and Secretary General, Bobboi Kaigama and Musa Lawal yesterday, lamented that in the first instance, “For over two months running, the country has been experiencing chronic fuel scarcity such that has never been heard of before. The free-fall of the naira, poor health facilities, glorified primary schools as universities, closure of manufacturing companies, insecurity of lives and properties, which essentially is caused by unemployment, etc.

”Our case has become so deplorable that we have now become a laughing stock among the comity of nations.

“Where is the conscience of the so-called lawmakers? Where are the good roads to drive cars? Why is it that the privileged in this country do not consider the less-privileged? Lawmakers ride in public transportation in most developed countries to attend to state matters, despite the affluence of their country. The reason our leaders do ridiculous things beats our imagination”.

The move by the National Assembly to buy 469 vehicles purportedly for oversight functions for each member of the upper and lower chambers, came after the lawmakers had each collected between N7million and N8million last August as car loans.

“N47.5 billion for only cars is senseless and height of insensitivity and we support President Buhari to stand his ground on the issue. We are definitely not against the President holding a closed-door meeting with the lawmakers, but all we are saying is no to such frivolous expenses.

”Some have argued that the National Assembly go away with their official vehicles after four years, having paid the current value to government coffers. But we wanted something different hence Nigerians voted for change. It just does not make any sense contemplating buying cars with almost 40 per cent of government annual budget. We just do hope the lawmakers mean well for the country”, the TUC said.