N2.3bn Car Purchase: New Group Emerges

From OFEM UKET, Abuja

A new group called Transparency Group, TG yesterday emerged at the House of Representatives with a mandate to ensure transparency, accountability and prudent spending in the public sector following the appearance of its five members accused to have been plotting to destabilize the activities of the house before the Ethics and Privileges Committee.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the leader of the group, Hon Tam Brisibe declared that the purchase of 380 Peugeot cars for standing committees in the house was a waste, saying that the ordinary Nigerian could hardly afford three meals in a day, why spend such funds on exotic cars.
He argued that the expenditure so far was not approved by any session of the House of Representatives in the face of the obvious hardship that the common man is facing and also giving the fact that all the institutions of state are maintained with tax payers money.
Hon. Brisibe lamented that the purchase of bullet proof cars for the speaker or any member of the house of representatives at such huge amount of money was uncalled for, stressing that it was a form of disservice to the Nigerian people.
The group stated that the entire process of car purchase and contract award for the supply of computers, plasma televisions are various ways designed by the leadership of the house to defraud the National Assembly.
They challenged the committee on ethics to establish the alleged double payment of taxes on one and the same contract, and to further establish the culpability and complicity of any person involved and recommend appropriate sanctions.