The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday called on senators who benefited from a recent purchase of 108 brand new Toyota Land Cruisers to immediately return same or face the wrath of the Nigerian people.
It comes as the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has described as insensitive the recent moves by senators to acquire 108 Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps meant for every member after collecting car loans less than a year ago.
NLC described the purchase, coming at a time the country is enduring excruciating financial crisis, as a crime against the people.
Senators started taking delivery of the vehicles last week at the rate of N35.1 million per unit.
In a statement by its president, Ayuba Wabba, on Monday, NLC said it was “morally despicable and shameful” that the lawmakers embarked on such acquisition when they were supposed to occupy themselves with issues that would benefit the people.
“We consider appalling, insensitive and greedy the decision of the Senate to acquire 108 Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps (one for each member less the Senate President) after collecting car “loans” in August last year for the same purpose,” Wabba said.
“It is equally morally despicable and shameful that they are doing this after publicly admitting that the standing committees of the Senate are unable to perform their statutory functions due to paucity of funds.”
Wabba said the prices of the vehicles were grossly inflated and demanded that the lawmakers explain where they sourced the funds since the 2016 Appropriation Bill had not been signed into law.
“We at the Nigeria Labour Congress equally consider it a wilful and grievous criminal act the inflation of the unit cost of each of the cars by over a 100 percent, as each car supposedly cost N35.1 million instead of N17 million.
“Aside from this, Nigerians are keen to know from where they got money for the purchase of these cars without appropriation.”
Wabba also rubbished the explanation put forward by the Senate to justify the purchase.
“The defence offered by the Senate spokesperson, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, is laughable and childish. According to him, Special Advisers use jeeps, why not Senators or do Nigerians expect them to trek to work? And in any case, cars are capital projects!
“Couldn’t this have been put to better uses such as the constituency projects of these same Senators? At a time with severe economic challenges and deepening poverty in the land, can the Senate afford this level of reckless luxury and arrogance?
“The answer is “no”.
“Their multiple acts of criminality, ranging from acquiring these cars after previously taking loans for the same purpose; spending money without appropriation and over inflating costs constitute not just corruption but a crime against the Nigerian people whom they claim to represent,” Mr. Wabba said.
The Labour leaders, therefore, called on the senators to return the vehicles or face public backlash, adding that no one is above the law.
“Accordingly, we demand they return those cars to whoever supplied them or the appropriate agencies prosecute them for corruption.
“In the event none of this happens, they should be prepared to keep a date with Nigerian workers and their civil society allies including market women and students.
“No one is above the law,” the Labour leader said.
The TUC also described purchase of the vehicles an act of criminality after senators collected loans for the same purpose.
A statement, signed by Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, the President of the TUC, and Comrade Simeso Amachree, the Acting Secretary General, said: “Where did such idea emanate from for God’s sake at a time the country is bleeding from all sides and seriously gasping for breath? This is obviously a pointer to the fact that our Senators means no well for the country. They have lost touch with the plight of the people that vote for them.
“Our politicians and their tradition of reaping where they did not sow! What would our Senators say they have achieved in the last one year? It is morally wrong and shameful for the Senate of the Federal Republic to attach so much importance to infinitesimal things like cars and houses at a time their counterparts elsewhere are making good laws and transforming lives. We do not know of any lawmaker both in the Red and Green Chamber that had not got cars before they came to the senate. Some have even been in the senate now for 12 years after serving as governors and lawmakers in their respective states.
“Where lies the conscience of our Senators? How come they are not disturbed by the effort of our president to revamp the economy? We are not going to let all these forces frustrate the effort of the Federal Government again, not any more.
“We want the Senate to immediately furnish Nigerians and the world how they got money for the purchase of these cars without appropriation. We view as demeaning and laughable the explanation by Senate spokesperson, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, who said that Special Advisers drive jeeps, why not Senators? Oh, it is unfortunate this Senate is determined to frustrate the effort of the President Buhari led administration.
“What a Senate so reckless and arrogant!
“The Congress must as a matter of urgency commence investigation and prosecution of those involved in the transaction up to the supplier of the cars. We have set machinery in motion on how to stall the evils going on the floor of the Senate. Haba, at first it was an amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act and now paltry issues like cars. But for greed and avarice, what cars haven’t they got? THE SENATE SHOULD GET PREPARED.”
