…Says Four-Year-Old Cars Do not Befit Lawmakers
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] lawmaker representing Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency of Jigawa State in the House of Representatives, Engr Magaji Dau Aliyu, has described injecting a sum of N4.7 billion in the 2016 federal government budget for the purpose of procuring cars for legislators as constitutional right of members of parliament.
Answering questions as a guest on POLITICS NATIONAWIDE, a Radio Nigeria programme focussing on: “the Place of Constituency Projects on Infrastructural development” on Thursday, Honourable Aliyu, argued that it was constitutional right of members of national assembly to have new official vehicles.
On why the lawmakers could not take over the cars used by their predecessors, he said a four-year-old car had lost value and therefore, does not befit honourable members.
“I think that people should really understand that they voted for us,” he said, adding “It’s like when you employ somebody, you need to give him all he require to do the work.”
Contrary to speculations, Engr. Aliyu said national assembly members were yet to receive car loans.
“And even if we did,” he argued, “it is a loan that would have to be paid back. It has to be deducted from our salaries. So in actual fact, it is not free.”
Referring to his visit to Radio Nigeria as a guest on the programme, Aliyu noted: “This is just a committee work I am doing here. And I came alone. I don’t need a bus to come here. As an honourable member, I have a car. I’m a very privileged person. If I’m going to my constituency, on official function, I definitely need an official car, not a bus.”
