There is nowhere in the world where elected officials have been emboldened by the electorates and elevated to venerable status like we have in Africa and Nigeria in particular. Either wittingly or unwittingly, somehow or anyhow, out of our own volition, by our own doing, we have convinced those who are supposed to be our servants that they are now our lords. Consequently, servants are now riding on horses and those who sent them are trekking on empty stomachs. That’s why a lawmaker will say on TV that, it is a N160million luxury car purchased with public money, that is befitting for their assignment.
Even in the US where we copied our democracy from, members of Congress may lease a vehicle for official use within the Congressional District. Only the Member and full-time staff with valid driver’s licenses are permitted to operate the vehicle. Not even their wives or family members are allowed to use the vehicle unless they work with the member full time. Lease payments in excess of $1,000 per month cannot be charged against the Members’ Representational Allowance (MRA). You pay the balance by yourself.
If we cross over to Europe, the situation is a lot more frugal. Majority of the countries in the EU, which are far richer and stable than us in Africa, do not have official vehicles for members of parliament. Yet they make laws that govern their countries.
In Britain, members of the House of Commons get transportation, IT and communications allowances to the tune of 10 percent of their gross salary. For official functions, the UK systematically contracts the services of a taxi company for the exclusive use of the Clerk of the Parliament and the Chairmen of Committees who can use the Government Car Service to and from the airport when attending an international conference and occasionally for other official functions. When committee members are making official trips, they will have their transport expenses reimbursed.
In France, National Assembly members only claim expenses of up to 5,837 euros per month for transport, rent for second homes in Paris, entertainment and clothing. There are also benefits in kind like free travel in first class on the national rail network SNCF, 40 free return flights per year between Paris and their constituencies, and six free return flights per year on itineraries of their choice within mainland France.
In Spain, members of parliament from within Madrid get 870 euros a month in expenses, while MPs with a constituency out of the capital get 1,823 euros a month in expenses including transportation. The Spanish parliament also allows the use of a contracted government transport service for certain categories of members and staff.
In Germany, lawmakers are allowed to use office cars for trips within Berlin, get free train travel across Germany and are reimbursed for domestic flights used in exercising their mandate. Certain categories of members of the Upper House, (Bundesrat) are however allowed the use of official cars.
In Sweden, members of parliament living more than 50km (31 miles) from the Riksdag are entitled to reimbursement of up to 7,000 Swedish krona a month, for transport and overnight accommodation in Stockholm. No one is entitled to an official car.
In Belgium, only Bureau members are entitled to official cars.
In the Czech Republic, only the Vice-chairmen and Chairmen of parliamentary committees and chairmen of political groups have access to official cars.
In Luxemburg, only the President and Vice-President of parliament have access to official cars.
The Polish Parliament authorizes the use of official cars by the Heads of the Senate Chancellery, Directors of the Senate Chancellery offices, staff (clerks) of the Senate Chancellery in general, when working after 8 p.m.
The Romanian Parliament offers the use of official cars to the institution’s Secretary-General, departmental heads, directors, advisers and experts.
Austria has a system of reimbursement of parliamentarians for regular journeys on production of invoices.
In Estonia, there is a fixed monetary norm of €205/month, for travel expenses for parliamentarians.
But return home to Africa and gasp for breathe. A blessed continent so mismanaged and riddled with poverty, you will wonder what our leaders want to prove with their appetite for luxury wheels. The scandalous lust for these automobiles cuts across the continent, but let me list a few.
Ugandan MPs got $30million in 2021 to buy luxury cars. Each of the 529 lawmakers got $56,500.
The 418 Kenyan Parliamentarians, including both Speakers, are entitled to car loans and a free vehicle known as car grant. In 2022, the 12th Parliament of Kenya, budgeted Sh11.7bn for luxury cars.
War torn and poverty ravaged South Sudan, spent $16million on luxury cars for MPs in 2018.
In 2021, the Ghanaian Parliament approved a $28million loan to buy luxury cars. Each of the 275 MPs received $100,000 for the purchase of a vehicle.
MPs in South Africa are allowed to purchase one car for official use in Pretoria as well as one in Cape Town, making two, which could value up to R1.68 million each. Earlier this year, it was reported that the Speaker of the South African Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, took delivery of two new 5 series BMWs costing R1.5 million.
In Nigeria, NASS members are entitled to car loans not exceeding 400 percent of their basic salary. According to RMAFC records, a senator gets an annual basic salary of N2.02 million, while Reps earn N1.9 million. Therefore, they are entitled to a car loan of not more than N8.1 million and N7.9 million respectively. How they arrived at buying N160million vehicles is a question that will wait for Godot.
The most disturbing addendum to all of these is that, this appetite for exotic cars by our lawmakers is also foreign tailored. It doesn’t matter to them that several African countries are already manufacturing automobiles and there is a need to strengthen these manufactures and retain capital. All the luxury cars they purchase are foreign brands from outside Africa.
We can go on and on, but the very rare example here also is President Hichilema of Zambia who recently rejected a proposal to buy cars worth $1.8 million for his entourage and asked government officials who needed high-end cars to purchase them with their personal cash. We can hold on to his glimmer of hope and continue to preach that other Africans who hold leadership positions will come to that light too and reorder our priorities for the benefit of this continent.
• Jalingo is an award-winning journalist and is based in Nigeria