The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State, has expressed concern over the 2026 budget of the state, alleging the allocation of over N25 billion for vehicles as against the N69 million provided for drugs and medical supplies.
According to the opposition party, a government that
prioritises bulletproof luxury vehicles over medicines for children and
learning tools for students lacks the moral right to speak about development.
With N23.3 billion budgeted on government vehicles and
transport-related items, N2.1 billion was earmarked for the purchase of 27
Toyota Fortuner SUVs for just 26 legislators and one clerk.
While emphasising that the development portrayed the ruling
All Progressives Congress, APC, as an avenue for focusing on providing comfort
for the elite instead of public service.
PDP, in a statement issued by its Director of Media and
Public Communications, Wande Ajayi, urged the state government to review the
allocation and redirect the funds to critical sectors.
He said, “By simple arithmetic, this government has budgeted
less than N15 per person for medicines for an entire year in a state grappling
with failing primary healthcare, rising maternal mortality and preventable
diseases.
“At the same time, lawmakers’ luxury SUVs alone cost four
times more than the N515 million allocated for educational materials and
equipment across the state.
Reacting to the stance of the PDP, the Director of Media and
Publicity of the ruling party in the state, Steve Otaloro said the legislators’
vehicles should not be viewed as luxury but as the necessity required to
function in their capacity as lawmakers.
He said, “It is both disingenuous and intellectually
dishonest to isolate single line items within a comprehensive budget framework
while ignoring the extensive and well-documented investments being made in
healthcare, education, infrastructure, agriculture, and social welfare
programmes.”
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