Many state governors have spent billions of naira to purchase exotic vehicles of different foreign brands for members of the state houses of assembly despite the economic downturn in the country, Daily Trust  reports.

Analyses by Daily Trust indicated that nine states have expended over N15bn on different brands of vehicles mostly for lawmakers in the current political dispensation. The states include; Kano, Kogi, Gombe, Benue, Ondo, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Osun, Niger, and Delta states.

A former chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Bayo Ogunleye described the endless purchase of cars as misplacement of priority.

He however stated that the state lawmakers were only taking after their colleagues in the National Assembly who have also purchased different exotic cars.

According to him, since the federal government can’t be stopped from purchasing vehicles, it would be difficult to convince the states against buying such expensive vehicles.

“All the so-called elected people have become unconcerned about the plight of the people. Look at the situation in the country, people are hungry, prices of food items are high and yet you are buying expensive vehicles for lawmakers.”

Senior Communications Officer, Yiaga Africa, Mark Amaza, in an interview with Daily Trust, said considering the economic situation of Nigeria, spending “so much on a small group of people does not convey concern for the plight of their constituents.”

"The second is that such a gift from the governor to the legislators does not only signify the lack of financial autonomy of the house, but also begs the question: will the same legislators then be able to hold the executive accountable and provide the check and balance that is expected of them?”

Executive Director, Cleen Foundation, Gad Peter, said gifting cars to lawmakers and other government officials had become a “ritual, a tradition, a norm in Nigeria for the executive.

“We saw this same conversation when the National Assembly came with its own proposal. When you talk, they say they need those cars to go to their communities, that the roads are not good. But why don’t you make the roads more motorable and spend less?

“So, if we invest this money in capital project, we’re getting this infrastructure working.”

Also speaking to Daily Trust, Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Ibrahim Zikirullahi, noted that the Federal government did same despite public opposition, lamenting that “the height of insensitivity to the plight of the ordinary citizen is alarming, especially with the federal government’s proposed minimum wage.”