Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki on Thursday stated that the National Assemblywill not spend an ‘outrageous’ amount of money on the purchase of new cars for federal lawmakers.
“Please wait for the breakdown of the 2016 budget. Not in my time will NASS spend such outrageous amount on vehicles.
“I still maintain we will provide breakdown of NASS Budget and the one submitted by executive. You will be carried along.
“Will follow due process all the time and ensure things are done according to the law and will carry Nigerians along,” Saraki said on his official Twitter handle.
This came after President Muhammadu Buhari during his media chat yesterday frowned at the alleged move by the senate to spend billions of naira on cars.
Mr. Buhari had alleged that federal lawmakers had earmarked the sum of N47 billion for the procurement of vehicles.
“If I can turn down N400 million for the presidency that I do not need any new car because of the economy, I can’t see the National Assembly spending more than N47 billion to buy cars, on top of transport allowance they collect,” the President said on Wednesday.
He further said that the budget for the transport allowance for the lawmakers comes up to a N100billion.
The President, however, said he would explore the option of using veto power to stop the lawmakers.
“I will explore that power to stop the expenditure of N50 billion for cars by the National Assembly,” he said.