The billion naira SUVs for Senate

Sir: Time and time again, the Senate has always conducted its affairs in a manner that is insensitive and at variance with the sensibilities of the Nigerian people. The latest issue that is the subject of public discourse apart from the many follies of the Senate, which is a threat to the sustenance and stability of our democracy, is the latest purchase of SUVs in these austere times of dwindling national funds.


One recalls that the Eighth Senate since the advent of this present administration after the conduct of the 2015 general election has been refusing to submit itself to due process, transparency and accountability, which are key tenets of democratic principles. At present, she is having a running battle with the executive over its refusal to adopt the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which is an adopted state financial policy of plugging leakages and ensuring probity in public finances. The Senate must be told in clear and frank terms, that times have changed and it’s no longer business as usual.

It is baffling and disturbing to vast majority of Nigerians, that despite the reality of the times in which Nigeria is battling with so many problems ranging from insecurity, fuel scarcity, high unemployment, infant and maternal mortality, high crime rate, broken down public infrastructure, non-payment of workers’ salaries across all levels of government as a result of paucity of funds, public officials remain insensitive. Yet, the primary purpose of government is the welfare of the people, rather than that of elected or appointed public officials, which undoubtedly is their primary concern.

By this insensitive action, the Senate has put a seal to public knowledge about their mindsets and actions as evidence of being cut off from reality by its insensitivity and disdain for the plight and welfare of the people which ought to be the foremost consideration in their actions but is now taking a back seat and not even worth considering.

* Nelson Ekujumi, Lagos. [The Guardian]