Opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, on Tuesday, expressed concern over the 2026 budget of the state, accusing the government of allocating over N25billion for vehicles as against the N69million provided for drugs and medical supplies.
PDP said 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 for purchase of 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.
The opposition party stressed that the development portrayed the ruling All Progressives Congress as a platform for focusing on providing comfort for the elite instead of public service.
PDP’s Director of Media and Public Communications, Wande Ajayi, in a statement, urged the state government to review the allocation and redirect the funds to critical sectors.
The statement read, “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 N515million allocated for educational materials and equipment across the state.
Reacting to the PDP’s statement, APC’s state Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro said the legislators’ vehicles should not be viewed as luxury but as the necessity required to function in their capacity as lawmakers.
According to him, “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.”
