Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has stated that the N110billion being proposed for exotic cars and pallaitives for National Assemblies should be distributed to the country’s 360 federal constituencies.
In a statement on Wednesday signed by Falana as the Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB), he argued that if the N110 billion was distributed, each constituency would receive N305million which would help to “alleviate the harsh economic pains inflicted on the Nigerian people as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Bola Tinubu administration.”
He said, “Sometime in 2020, the National Assembly members unanimously approved N37 billion for the face-lift of the National Assembly Complex. The huge cost of the repairs of the complex was greeted with nation-wide condemnation in view of the fact that the sum of N128 billion had been allocated for the National Assembly in the 2020 Appropriation Act.
Former Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan defended the renovation fund, stating that the National Assembly building had not been renovated for 20 years. According to him, when the 9th National Assembly resumed, it was discovered that some parts of the property had become dilapidated.
“We have confirmed that the N37 billion face-lift of the complex has not been completed. Curiously, the members of both houses of the National Assembly have unanimously approved another sum of N70 billion for the face-lift of the same complex without any request for a review of the N37 billion renovation contract.
We have also confirmed that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission did not authorise the N40 billion for purchase of bulletproof cars for the leaders of the National Assembly.
“Therefore, the total sum of N110 billion should be distributed to the 360 federal constituencies in the country. Since each constituency will receive not less than 305 million it will go a long way to alleviate the harsh economic pains inflicted on the Nigerian people as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Bola Tinubu administration.”
