Ondo State Budgets N245million for Luxury SUVs, N107million for Healthcare Services

The Ondo State government has allocated a staggering N245million to purchase two Lexus SUVs for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

This decision comes at a time when the state is grappling with serious financial challenges and pressing social issues.

According to budget performance documents reviewed by Sahara Reporters, each vehicle will cost N122.5million. Critics argue that this expenditure is excessive, especially given the ongoing calls for Nigerian states to reduce the cost of governance. "Spending over a hundred and twenty million naira on jeeps for just two officials is outrageous," said a concerned citizen.

In stark contrast, the state's primary healthcare management board has been allocated only N107million for capital projects for the entire year of 2024. This disparity in budget allocation has raised serious questions about the government's prioritization of resources. "How can we justify spending more than twice the amount on luxury vehicles than on essential healthcare services?" questioned another resident.

The financial strain on the state is further highlighted by its debt crisis. Ondo State spent N8billion on debt servicing in the first six months of 2024 alone, showing the urgent need for prudent resource management.

Additionally, data from the National Bureau of Statistics reveals that 66% of households in the state lack access to sanitary facilities and 51% do not have clean drinking water. These are critical issues that could be addressed with the funds earmarked for the luxury SUVs.

Moreover, the state has witnessed multiple protests over the past year due to the non-payment of salaries. In May 2024, workers at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital protested against unpaid salary arrears, further emphasizing the dire financial situation.

The budget also allocates only N500million for the Amotekun corps' capital expenditure for the entire fiscal year, yet nearly half of this amount is planned to be used for the purchase of two luxury vehicles.

"This kind of misallocation of resources is unacceptable, especially when our healthcare system is underfunded and our workers are unpaid," stated a local activist.