From Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
In deference to the buy made-in-Nigeria campaign, the House of Representatives has resolved to procure locally assembled cars for its members.
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas who confirmed this yesterday at a media briefing, said plans to purchase 360 units of Peugeot 508 (2015 model) has been concluded.
The lawmakers reportedly settled for the vehicles after a presentation of samples from two local auto manufacturers. “The cars will be purchased from a Nigerian company,” Namdas said.
Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited based in Kaduna will deliver the cars at N10 million each by the end of the second quarter.
“Peugeot is a local vehicle assembly plant. By patronising them, it is the decision of the House that we will be generating employment and promoting made in Nigeria products. That is the difference. We have resolved to buy the cars and in weeks from today, they will begin to arrive,” Namdas confirmed.
Payment for the cars to be used for oversight functions by the lawmakers, would be spread across two years.
Also, a bill for an act to abrogate the legislative powers delegated to the executive, administrative, judicial and other offices, officers, agencies and authorities for the determination, imposition, increase, cancellation, withdrawal or reduction of taxes, duties, tariffs and fees and to prohibit the exercise of such powers without the approval of the National Assembly, pursuant to section 59(1)(b) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and other related matters, was yesterday passed for second reading at the lower chamber.
The bill sponsored by Garba Datti Muhammed (APC, Kaduna), seeks to address the unilateral increase in payment for tariffs and duties.
Leading debate on the bill, Muhammed said the bill seeks to retrieve the power of the National Assembly given to it by the Constitution.
The powers to control prices of essential services, he said, has been abused by the Executive as demonstrated in the increase in the fees for of driver licences, electricity tariff, water rate, fuel pump price among others.
In his contribution, Majority Leader, Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) said before tax is increased or decreased, it must be subjected to “legislative fireworks” in the National Assembly.
The bill was referred to the Committee on Justice after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.