Labour Party Cries Foul Over N160 Million Gift

The chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has voiced strong disapproval over the allocation of N160 million in official vehicles to each of the 360 members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives.

Abure has urged the party’s lawmakers to reject this extravagant gift, labelling it a display of extreme insensitivity.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Abure expressed his dismay at the ostentatious spending by both the executive and legislative branches in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

These comments come in response to reports that members of the Senate and House of Representatives are already receiving new 2023 SUVs as part of this largesse.

The public has been buzzing with news of the National Assembly’s plans to acquire 109 Toyota Land Cruisers for senators and 2023 Toyota Prados for the House of Representatives members.

Abure, however, asserted that such wastefulness goes against the core principles of the Labour Party, which stands for social justice and equal opportunities for all.

He went on to say, “The poor must be allowed to breathe again in this country.” The Labour Party leader expressed his disappointment, especially given the prevailing poverty among Nigerians.

He questioned the logic behind spending billions on these imported vehicles at a time when the government claims it cannot afford to raise the minimum wage to N30,000 per month for workers.

Abure pointed out the contradiction of increasing the number of luxury vehicles for politicians while the economy faces inflation and forex scarcity.

He suggested that supporting local vehicle manufacturers like Innoson Motor in Anambra and Peugeot Automobiles in Kaduna would be a more prudent use of resources. This, he believes, would not only save foreign exchange but also boost the local economy.

As the issue unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Labour Party legislators in the 10th Assembly will heed this call to reject the expensive vehicles.

The pressure is on these lawmakers to either stand with their party’s principles or provide a compelling explanation to their constituents regarding the use of taxpayer funds for such extravagant gifts.

Source: PUNCH