The decision of the Nigerian National Assembly, NASS to spend a whooping sum of N2.5billion naira in the 2012 budget to purchase Toyota Camry cars for its members has drawn the anger of Nigerian organized private sector, particularly Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture, KADCIMA.
President of KADCIMA, Alhaji Umaru Yahaya believes that the survival of local industries, especially Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Ltd would have taken the better side of the legislators to shun such ostentatious lifestyle, while faulting the government as being responsible for the near comatose or total collapse of manufacturing industries in Nigeria.
While addressing the press on the recent decision of the people’s representative (House of Reps Members) to import Camry cars to the tune of 2billion naira, Alhaji Umar maintained that such huge sums can be used to manufacture or assembled vehicles here in Nigeria, saying their action shows they are unconcerned about the well being of our local industries.
He however said all hope is not lost as “we believe that since this is captured in next year’s budget, there is room for the NASS to reconsider its position on this particular issue and give PAN the right of first refusal as far as this patronage is concerned. By bringing these vehicles into the country we are developing the economies of other countries at the expense of our own. If these vehicles were to be manufactured here, the tremendous value added that it will bring to the economy of Nigeria and also the employment that will be generated from the level of engineers, artisans, the labour class will appreciated by all of us”.
Given reasons for his position, the KADCIMA chairman, noted that, should the government at all level patronize locally manufactured goods, such contracts would have been awarded to PAN which according to him, has the technical capacity of assembling what is being demanded by the peoples representatives.
“Such monies would have not only boosted our economy but on the long run, assisted in revamping some of our companies which are almost going extinct because of lack of patronage. Moreover, PAN has professional capacity to undertake whatever contract so given, and such monies would have been better appreciated in terms of employment generation that will lead to reduction in youth restiveness.
Sharpedgenews.com can authoritatively report that during the last labour strike by NLC over N18,000 minimum wage in Kaduna state, labour alleged that the state government had ordered Toyota Camry cars for each of the 34 members azt N8million naira each.