A recent analysis of budget performance documents reveals that the Ondo State government has allocated N245 million to purchase two Lexus SUVs for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. This allocation translates to N122.5 million per vehicle, raising concerns about the prioritization of resources.
The decision to spend over N120 million on each vehicle for the Assembly leaders comes at a time when there are increasing calls for states across Nigeria to reduce the cost of governance. In stark contrast, the state has budgeted only N107 million for the entire 2024 capital expenditure of its primary healthcare management board, less than half of what will be spent on the two luxury vehicles.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics highlights critical needs in Ondo State, where 66% of households lack access to sanitary facilities, and 51% do not have access to clean drinking water. These are issues that could potentially be addressed with the funds earmarked for the SUVs for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
The state has also faced ongoing protests from workers over unpaid salaries. In May 2024, employees of the Ondo State Hospital, specifically those at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, protested the non-payment of their salary arrears.
Additionally, the Ondo State government has allocated only N500 million for the capital expenditure of the Amotekun Corps in the entire 2024 fiscal year, yet plans to spend nearly half of this amount on vehicles for just two individuals, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Furthermore, the state spent N8 billion on debt servicing in the first half of 2024, underscoring its significant debt burden and the urgent need to manage its limited resources more effectively.
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