If the available information on a budget document of the Lagos State government sighted by The Guardian is anything to go by, then it means each of the 40 lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly would spend not less than N1.5b on vehicles in 24 months.

According to the budget document sighted by The Guardian, between January and September 2023, the Lagos Assembly spent N18.87b on vehicles, while for the entire 2024 budget year, about N35.66b has been appropriated to be spent by Lagos State House of Assembly on vehicle. Also, a document on the budget performance report on 2023 quarter four revealed that between October and December 2023, N11.32b was spent on vehicles along the same budget line item and title.

The budget performance report revealed that in 2023, N32.565b was appropriate for vehicles of the assembly while N30.194b was the actual that was spent, which amount to a 92 per cent budget performance.

The budget line sighted by The Guardian was titled purchase of backup vehicles for 40 honourable members, utility buses and official vehicles.

If what was spent in 2023 is added to what is appropriated for 2024, and if eventually spent which is likely, this implies that the assembly would spend over N65.859 on vehicles in 24 months, although about have of it has already been spent in 2023.

Also, if the N65.859b is spread across the 40 lawmakers in the assembly, it means on the average each of the lawmakers would spend not less than N1.5b on vehicles in 24 months.

Similarly, if the N30.194b spent on vehicles in 2023 is spread across the 40 lawmakers, it means each of the lawmakers spent N754m on vehicles in 2023.

Ironically, sometimes late last year, the federal lawmakers were criticized for spending money on expensive car. Yet the 109 senators and 360 house of representative members were about spending N57.6b on vehicles.

It was, however, gathered that it was only last year that staff bus were provided specifically for workers within the assembly. Before now, the civil servants working within the assembly usually join the staff buses provided by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for those working with Ministries, Departments and Agencies within the Alausa secretariat.

It was also learnt that three buses were procured to convey assembly workers heading towards Ikorodu, Igando and Sango. (The Guardian)

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