Nasarawa buys N500m cars for lawmakers despite having no single ventilator in that state

The Nasarawa State governor has reportedly bought 24 Toyota Hilux vehicles for state lawmakers, estimated at nearly N500 million. This is despite the fact that the state does not have a single ventilator.

According to Daily Trust, the Speaker of Nasarawa House of Assembly, Ibrahim Abdullahi stated that 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. The health workers on Thursday, April 16, protested non-payment of their March salary by Doma local government. They threatened to embark on industrial action from Friday, if they are not paid.

Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) threatened to embark on strike over non payment of their March salary by Doma local council. 

Mr 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”.

People have condemned the purchase of the cars for lawmakers, stating that the money could have been put to better use.

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 such as Abuja that have confirmed Coronavirus patients.