Nasarawa state buys N500m cars for lawmakers with no single ventilator in the 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.