ASJA Defends N110 Billion Vehicle Spending by NASS

The Advocacy for Social Justice and Accountability (ASJA) defended the National Assembly's expenditure of N110 billion on official vehicles, asserting that these vehicles are not symbols of extravagance but necessary tools for lawmakers to perform their legislative duties. This defense comes after a federal high court in Lagos ruled the expenditure unlawful, leading to calls from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for members of the National Assembly to refund the amount.

The court's judgment, delivered by Yellim Bogoro, stated that N40 billion was used to procure 360 sports utility vehicles for members of the House of Representatives and N70 billion for the Senate. ASJA's executive director, Torkuma Asongo, emphasized the importance of ensuring that the National Assembly operates independently and without undue interference, arguing that the vehicles are essential for effective legislative work.

The organization urged stakeholders to allow the judicial process to unfold fully, warning against actions that could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.