The Bayelsa House of Assembly has approved a N3bn loan
request from the state government to purchase cars for legislators and other
political office holders.
The Speaker of the House, Mr. Kombowei Benson, who confirmed
this to newsmen on Thursday in Yenagoa, said that the decision was taken at a
closed door session of the House.
Benson, while defending the decision said that the
legislators had nothing to hide but resolved to consider the loan application
“in camera’’.
He said, “The sitting lasted for less than 30 minutes and we
felt there was no need for media coverage for such a brief session.
“There is a need for the cars; we have been without cars for
about two years after our inauguration.
“The same goes for other political appointees who need cars
to function effectively and discharge their duties.’’
Benson said that the vehicles would also be purchased for
the state`s security outfit – Operation Doo Akpo, which was almost going
moribund because of lack of operational vehicles.
He added that it was a unanimous decision among members of
the House that purchasing affordable cars would help save cost of governance.
The speaker, however, declined to give further details on
the number of cars to be purchased with the loan.
Meanwhile, some civil servants while reacting to the
development condemned it, especially as the state’s civil servants were being
owed six month salary arrears.
Mr Tari Jones, a civil servant, said that the decision was
unpopular and unjustifiable.
He said, “It is insensitive for the state government to take
loans to buy cars for legislators whose emoluments have been paid regularly
while civil servants have not been paid, this is unreasonable.”
0 Comments