Lagos Reporters

Court Declares National Assembly’s N110bn SUV, Allowance Spending Unlawful

–Lagos Reporters

The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared unlawful the National Assembly's controversial expenditure of N110 billion on sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and support allowances for lawmakers, ruling that the spending violated procurement laws, constitutional provisions, and the principles of public accountability.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Yellim Bogoro in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, the court held that the allocation of N40 billion for the purchase of 465 vehicles for federal lawmakers and N70 billion as support allowances for newly elected members was inconsistent with due process requirements and the public trust.

The lawsuit was instituted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in August 2023 following public outrage over the planned expenditure at a time many Nigerians were grappling with economic hardship.

According to a certified true copy of the judgment obtained on Sunday, the court also directed the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to ensure that all future procurement processes and spending of public funds by the National Assembly strictly comply with established due process guidelines.

Justice Bogoro further stressed that future expenditures must be guided by the principles of transparency, accountability, and value for money, reinforcing the need for prudent management of public resources.

SERAP, in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, welcomed the judgment, describing it as a significant victory for accountability and the rule of law.

The organisation explained that it approached the court after the National Assembly announced plans to spend N40 billion on official vehicles and another N70 billion in support packages for lawmakers despite the country's worsening economic situation.

The ruling is expected to intensify public debate over government spending priorities and could have far-reaching implications for future budgetary allocations and procurement practices within the National Assembly.

Lagos Refuse Crisis Worsens: Some Chairmen Accused of Using Compactor Trucks for Publicity Stunts, Environmental Workers Allegedly Mislead Authorities, Residents Decry Poor PSP Services

–Lagos Reporters

A Lagos Reporters investigation has uncovered what many residents describe as a worsening refuse management crisis across several local government areas and local council development areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State, with allegations that some council chairmen are failing to properly deploy compactor trucks acquired for waste evacuation.

According to findings by our correspondents, some of the trucks are allegedly brought out mainly during official environmental exercises and media events, where they are used for photographs and video coverage, while heaps of refuse remain unattended in many communities.

The investigation also revealed allegations against some environmental sanitation workers, who residents claim sometimes clear only portions of roadside refuse dumps before documenting the exercise with photographs and videos. Witnesses alleged that the remaining waste is left behind despite the compactor trucks not being filled to capacity, creating the impression that a thorough clean-up had taken place.

This pattern was observed by Lagos Reporters in several parts of the state, including Alimosho, Ikorodu, Egbe-Idimu, Amuwo-Odofin, Coker-Aguda, Apapa-Iganmu, Eredo, Ayobo-Ipaja, Ojo, Lagos Island, Badagry, Ifelodun, Imota, Ojokoro, Igando, Oriade, Isolo, and Oshodi.

Residents who spoke with our correspondents also expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators.

In Ojokoro, residents alleged that PSP operators sometimes appear only once in about two months, yet continue to issue fresh bills without providing regular waste collection services.

A resident of Coker-Aguda claimed that despite paying waste management charges through October, refuse had reportedly not been evacuated in the area since February.

Similarly, a resident in Oshodi said many households have resorted to dumping refuse by the roadside because collection services are irregular.

"We are now living with refuse because the PSP operators hardly come. People have little choice but to dump their waste where they can," the resident said.

Across many of the 57 local councils and LCDAs, residents further complained about the absence of public refuse containers and litter bins, arguing that the lack of disposal facilities contributes to indiscriminate dumping and environmental pollution.

The findings have raised fresh concerns about the effectiveness of waste management operations and the level of oversight exercised by local authorities over environmental workers and PSP operators responsible for keeping communities clean.

Lagos Reporters will continue to monitor the situation and investigate waste management practices across Lagos State as residents call for improved sanitation services, greater accountability, and the provision of adequate refuse containers and litter bins in their communities.