Presidency cries out over poor funding for State House Clinic
The Presidency has lamented the poor funding of the State House Clinic as it reveals that the hospital infrastructure has become obsolete.
The State House permanent secretary Umar Tijjani disclosed this when the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs visited the site for a Presidential Wing of the State House Clinic within the precinct of Aso Villa.
“I would like to say that the State House needs quite a formidable level of support and improvement in the funding. We are dealing with phasing out a lot of infrastructures that have come to the end of their lifespan,” said the official. “We have the issue of our ICT infrastructure. We have the issue of our equipment in the Conference Centre here, kitchen equipment. We have the issue of telecommunications and operational and utility vehicles that are gradually coming to the tail end of their lives, and we need to replace them.”
When completed, Mr Tijjani told the committee that the wing of the clinic would serve the public but would particularly cater to the medical needs of the president, vice president, their relatives, and other government officials.
President Muhammadu Buhari has often frequented the UK for medical treatment. He is currently on a medical trip to London. His wife, Aisha Buhari, had publicly condemned the hospital’s deplorable state in the past.
Mr Tijjani lamented the non-release of budgetary allocation to the State House in full was responsible for the clinic’s poor facilities, disclosing that out of N8.699 billion budgeted for State House in the 2018 fiscal year, N5.083 billion (58 per cent) was released.
He also told the committee that in 2019, out of N6.955 billion budgeted, N2 billion was released. But in 2020, the N4.878 billion appropriated was released.
On Friday, labour minister Chris Ngige said Nigerians did not need to go on medical trips amid an indefinite nationwide strike by resident doctors.
Speaking on Channels TV, Mr Ngige said Mr Buhari’s regime invested huge resources in the Nigerian health sector.
(NAN)
More from Peoples Gazette
Anti-Corruption
Investment Fraud: Fleeing Gloria Osei, husband procure Dominican passports amid Interpol manhunt
Nigerian couple entrepreneurs Gloria Igberaese and Muyiwa Folorunsho declared wanted by Interpol have obtained Dominican passports.
NationWide
Muslims’ New Year: Oyo, Kebbi, Osun declare Tuesday public holiday
The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has declared August 10 as the first day of Muharram 1443AH.
World
Wildfires: Buhari offers to help Turkey
President Muhammadu Buhari has made a telephone call to Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan, offering to help as the European country grapples with ravaging wildfires.
States
Kwara: Seven passengers kidnapped on highway
At least seven passengers have been kidnapped on a highway, the police command in Kwara says.
States
Soldiers battle Boko Haram as terrorists attempt to infiltrate Damboa
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have thwarted Boko Haram terrorists’ attempted attack on Damboa town in Borno, says the Nigerian Army.
NationWide
Osinbajo praises professor who says Nigerian youths lack integrity, commit Internet frauds
Osinbajo has praised a professor of Business Administration who accuses Nigerian youths of being “engrossed in Internet fraud called Yahoo Yahoo.”
