The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Thursday stated that the National Assembly will not expend an ‘outrageous’ amount of fund on the purchase of new cars for federal lawmakers.
During his maiden presidential media chat, President Muhammadu Buhari had alleged that federal lawmakers had earmarked a sum of N47 billion for the procurement of vehicles.
“If I can turn down N400 million for the presidency that I do not need any new car because of the economy, I can’t see the National Assembly spending more than N47 billion to buy cars, on top of transport allowance they collect,” the President said on Wednesday.
He further said that the budget for the transport allowance for the lawmakers comes up to a N100 billion.
“With the kind of money that goes into the National Assembly, we have to look at it conscientiously and see how we can live within our means,” Buhari suggested.
The President, however, said he would explore the option of vetoing such appropriation even it is passed by the National Assembly.
His words: “I will explore that power to stop the expenditure of N50 billion for cars by the National Assembly.”
But the Senate President insisted on Thursday that the National Assembly would not spend such extravagant amount of money on procurement of vehicles for lawmakers while insisting that the budget of the National Assembly will be made public in due course.
“Please wait for the breakdown of the 2016 budget. Not in my time will NASS spend such outrageous amount on vehicles.
“I still maintain we will provide breakdown of NASS Budget and the one submitted by executive. You will be carried along.
“Will follow due process all the time and ensure things are done according to the law and will carry Nigerians along,” Saraki said on his official Twitter handle.
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