Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kombowei Benson, has defended the legislative approval of a N3 billion loan request the House granted the state government to purchase cars for legislators and other political office holders; saying, the cars were needed for government to function effectively. . While defending the loan approval before newsmen in Yenagoa, he said that the decision was taken at a closed door session of the House but “in camera.”
Benson, however, declined to give further details on the number of cars to be purchased with the loan.
He said: “The sitting lasted for less than 30 minutes and we felt there was no need for media coverage for such a brief session. There is a need for the cars; we have been without cars for about two years after our inauguration.
“The same goes for other political appointees who need cars to function effectively and discharge their duties.’’
Benson added that the vehicles would also be purchased for the state`s security outfit – Operation Doo Akpo, which was almost going moribund because of lack of operational vehicles.
Meanwhile, the three billion naira loan approval for the purchase of cars did not go down well with some civil servants who described, as insensitive, the decision to buy luxury cars for elected and appointed state officials while civil servants were being owed six month salary arrears.
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