Protests erupted in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday as disgruntled youths voiced their objections to the allocation of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to members of the National Assembly.
In the Ikeja area of Lagos, scores of young people gathered, brandishing placards and chanting slogans such as ‘Fund education, not SUVs,’ ‘Pay living wages, not SUVs,’ ‘Return the SUVs now,’ and ‘Fund hospitals, not SUVs,’ among others.
The protesters expressed their frustration, stating, “Lawmakers buying SUVs with public funds is insensitive when the majority are suffering.”
One demonstrator, Juwon Sanyaolu, conveyed, “Workers are still battling for a living wage as the N33,000 minimum wage is not sustainable, but we have people at NASS taking delivery of exotic vehicles with about N160 billion. Students are dropping out of school because of costly fees. It’s insensitive. They must return the SUVs and fund education.”
Sanyaolu went on to question, “They’re the ones receiving hardship allowance. What hardship are they facing? What hard work are they doing?”
In Abuja, a similar scene unfolded as youths gathered at the Unity Fountain to express their dissent.
“This is the right time for Nigerian people to stand up for their rights and say enough is enough. Fuel is now N650 per litre, but senators are buying SUVs worth N160 million while people are suffering,” declared protester Emmanuel Larry in Abuja.
Lawmakers in the Green Chamber have already started taking delivery of their SUVs, and legislators in the Red Chamber are expected to receive their vehicles in the coming week. It is reported that the final batch of SUVs for lawmakers will arrive before December.
The decision by the National Assembly’s leadership to purchase imported SUVs for each lawmaker and provide bulletproof vehicles for the principal officers has sparked criticism among Nigerians. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sought legal action, filing applications for injunction to halt lawmakers from receiving the SUVs until their case is heard and determined by a Federal High Court in Lagos.