Why 160 Reps members are rejecting official cars

Some members of the House of Representatives, numbering about 160 have rejected its leadership’s offer to provide them with official cars.
They instead want the money transferred into their bank accounts.

The House of Representatives is spending about N6.1 billion on procurement of 360 units of Peugeot 508 for members, at a unit price of N17 million.
The cars have been coming in batches since December 2015.
As at August this year, about 200 units had been distributed to members.
A member of the House told Daily Sun yesterday, that “majority of those yet to get their official cars prefer to be given cash, in lieu of the cars.”

He said the legislators are demanding monetisation of the cars, because “they don’t like Peugeot 508, and not for any other reason.”
The lawmaker, who confirmed that he has gotten his own vehicle, added, “Some of them wanted Camry. Some wanted Prado. If they cannot buy them what they want, what is wrong in giving them money to buy. The most important thing is for them to buy.
“State assembly members are using Prado. Councillors are using Camry. What is the big deal about Peugeot 508? What is Peugeot 508?
“It is an embarrasment for anyone to want to make an issue out of this. Don’t you see the convoy of ministers when they come to the National Assembly?

“If you go to the (Presidential) Villa, they ride Mercedez Benz. There are three tiers of government. They should not be treating us as if we are not part of this government.”