According to Premium Times Newspaper, members are receiving the 2022 model of Toyota Landcruiser Prado Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) in batches. However, the leadership of the lower chamber is giving priority to the female and older lawmakers in the distribution of the vehicles.

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Also, lawmakers who are facing uncertainty due to election litigation have been excluded from the sharing pending the outcome of their election litigations at the Court of Appeal.

A member of the House, Clement Jimbo (APC, Akwa-Ibom), confirmed the distribution of the vehicles in a phone interview on Sunday.

“They started the distribution already. You know it is the official vehicle. They started with female lawmakers and those without litigation – election litigation – are equally given. But if you have pending litigation, you need to clear – finish the litigation and be sure that indeed you will be here till the next four years,” he said.

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Some of the lawmakers whose electiòns were nullified still have their cases pending at the Court of Appeal. Similarly, some that won at the tribunal are still being challenged at the appellate court, which is the final court for members of the National Assembly on election litigations.

Earlier, the spokesperson of the House, Akin Rotimi (APC, Ekiti), had informed that the distribution would not be done till January next year. The House comprises 360 members.

The purchaseof the vehicles by the lawmakers constitutes a violation of the Constitution, checks have revealed. 

Section 84 of the Nigerian 1999 constitution gives the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC the mandate for determining the salaries and allowances of public officials, including members of the National Assembly.

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Section 84 of the constitution provides thus: “There shall be paid to the holders of the offices mentioned in this section such remuneration, salaries and allowances as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, but not exceeding the amount as shall have been determined by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission”.

Premium Times/Pacesetter