Labour Party slams FG on promise of N57.6bn cars for lawmakers

• In an official statement signed by its National Chairman, Julius Abure, the opposition party criticized the government for struggling to enhance the minimum wage for Nigerians while it readily funds lavish expenditures for its officials
  

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The Labour Party has expressed strong disapproval for the proposed acquisition of cars worth N160 million each for members of the House of Representatives, asserting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is out of touch with the struggles of Nigerians.

The LP conveyed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is exhibiting extravagance precisely at a time when the Nigerian populace is grappling with economic hardship due to the administration’s policies that have led to a surge in food inflation.

In an official statement signed by its National Chairman, Julius Abure, the opposition party criticized the government for struggling to enhance the minimum wage for Nigerians while it readily funds lavish expenditures for its officials.

“A few days ago, the news filtered that 360 members of the House of Assembly are to be gifted with vehicles worth about N160 million each. The Labour Party is indeed shocked, saddened and disappointed at the level of insensitivity being displayed by the executive and the legislative arms of the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress administration,” the statement read.

“It is saddening that with deepening poverty among Nigerians the administration has decided to increase its appetite for a life of opulence to mock hardworking but underprivileged Nigerians.

“How else can any Government justify the bloated Federal Executive Council of 48 cabinet ministers, with each of them given three luxurious four-wheel drive vehicles on the first day in office, paid for and fueled by taxpayers? This is notwithstanding hundreds of presidential and ministerial aides, as well as numerous aides to the aides which are being funded by the government.

“These vehicles will be costing Nigerians about N57.6 billion and this is happening at a time when government claims it cannot afford to increase the minimum wage of N30,000 monthly to workers.

“A bag of 50 kg rice is today N50,000 and most families can’t afford two square meals a day, how insensitive can a Government become? This same government is still going around the world cap in hand seeking for loan, what a shame!”