STATE HOUSE CLINIC LACKS SYRINGES, DRUGS TO SAVE LIVES AFTER N11.1 BN BUDGET

ABUJA, Nigeria – The House of Representative has set up an adhoc committee to look into alleged deplorable condition of State House Clinic in the Presidency.

The lawmakers are angry that the clinic lacks drugs and syringes after N11.1 billion budget in the last three years.

Hon. Henry Archibong, a lawmaker, representing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Akwa Ibom moved the motion, ‘’Need to investigate the deplorable condition of the State House Clinic and the alleged deductions from the salaries and allowances of the medical staff”, following public outcry that greeted utterance of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari who alleged that the State House Clinic lacked syringes and drugs to attend to patients.

Following the motion, the House resolved to investigate former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari’s N11.1 billion State House Clinic budgets between 2015-2017.

The House also commended the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, for bringing the issue to Public glare. The lawmaker said the clinic has, over the years received annual budgetary allocations to procure equipment to function optimally.

According to the lawmaker, the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Appropriation Acts, the Clinic was allocated the sums of N3.94 billion, N3.87 billion and N3.2 billion(N11.1 billion) respectively, for upgrading and provision of necessary drugs and equipment.

Archibong observed that in spite of the huge budgetary allocations, the State House Clinic lacks necessary facilities such as syringes, drugs and equipment needed to save lives.