By Becky Usman

Recently, the House of Representatives declined a motion aiming to make all external secondary school examinations free for the 2023/2024 session, with the aim of easing the financial burden on families in the wake of the subsidy removal’s impact on the economy.

Lawmakers argued that Nigeria couldn’t afford to provide free WAEC, NECO, and UTME exams for citizens facing economic challenges due to the fuel subsidy removal. However, while they deemed free exams as too costly, they are on the brink of allocating a staggering N75 billion for the purchase of luxury vehicles for their personal use.

Breaking it down, each member of the National Assembly will receive a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) worth N160 million. In addition to accommodation allowances, newspaper allowances, and substantial salaries, Nigerians are set to foot the bill for 469 SUVs for all parliament members.

At a time when Nigerians are being asked to tighten their belts and make sacrifices, lawmakers are ordering expensive, fuel-guzzling cars that will be funded from the public treasury. This expenditure raises questions about the prioritization of education and healthcare improvements, which could benefit the nation as a whole, over lavish perks for lawmakers.