Anambra Central senator, Victor Umeh, says members of the National Assembly cannot trek to work to carry out their legislative duties.
Umeh made this remark on Monday during an interview on African Independent Television, AIT’s Political Platform, while defending the provision of official vehicles to lawmakers.
The lawmaker dismissed criticisms surrounding the allocation of vehicles to federal lawmakers, insisting that receiving an official vehicle for official functions should not be controversial.
When asked if he got a vehicle from the National Assembly, he said: “Why won’t I get a vehicle for performing official functions? Are you not seeing people in the executive arm of the government having a fleet of vehicles?”
According to him, the National Assembly was often unfairly singled out for criticism over official benefits available to public office holders.
“Why is the National Assembly singled out for lampooning? You cannot be faulted for having one official vehicle, one, not two, not fleet. I’m not a principal officer in the National Assembly, I’m just a senator representing my senatorial district, and I’m entitled to an official car to do my work.
“If the only way Nigeria can be good is for senators to be trekking to work, well, I don’t think we’re being serious,” Umeh said.
Watch video
