The Nasarawa State government under the leadership of Engineer Abdullahi Sule has come under criticism for splashing almost N500 million on cars for members of the state house of assembly.
The state government splashed the money on 24 Toyota Hilux vehicles for state lawmakers despite not having a single ventilator to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
A report by Daily Trust revealed that the Speaker of Nasarawa House of Assembly, Ibrahim Abdullahi gave the 24 Toyota Hilux to the lawmakers as official vehicles.
At an average cost of N21m per car, they are worth a combined total of N504m. The car purchase comes amid a protest by Medical and Health Workers in the state.
Health workers on Thursday, April 16, protested non-payment of their March salary by Doma local government and threatened to embark on industrial action from Friday, April 17, if they are not paid.
Adamu Musa, the Secretary of Ekye branch of the union in Doma Local Government, made this know on Thursday in Lafia when they appeared to defend their petition before the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, (NSHA) Committee on Public Complaints, Petitions and Security chaired by Hon Danladi Jatau.
Musa said: “We petitioned the Chairman of Doma Local Government, Alhaji Rabo Sani over non payment of our March salary to health workers and we are set to commence strike by Friday 17th, 2020, if nothing is done”.
The purchase of the cars for lawmakers has been seriously condemned with the position that the money could have been put to better use upheld by the masses.
An activist, Omar Nurudeen, said the presentation of new Toyota Hilux cars to the 24 lawmakers was unnecessary, according to Daily Trust. The publication added that Omar lamented that the cars were presented at a time most states have cut down their spending to meet the economic challenges brought on in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.
Omar noted that each car which allegedly cost N21m could pay for at least three ventilators, which would have improved the health system of the state.
Though Nasawara has not reported any confirmed case of COVID-19, the state shares boundaries with other states including Abuja that have confirmed Coronavirus patients.
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