Despite owing retired civil servants’ gratuities for several years, the Ondo State Government led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has budgeted N245 million for the purchase of two Lexus SUVs for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
The amount is contained in the state’s 2024 appropriation bill of N395 billion signed into law.
The governor on December 21, 2023, as the acting governor, presented a budget of N384.53 billion to the assembly.
The estimate comprised a capital expenditure of N222.26 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N173 billion.
However, the assembly increased the budget to N395 billion, a difference of about N10.7 billion.
A check on the budget by SaharaReporters showed that N245,050,000 was approved for the “Purchase of 2 Nos Lexus Jeep for Speaker and Deputy Speaker (10th Assembly)”.
The government also plans to spend N200 million on the “Purchase of 26 Units of IVM Vehicles for 26 Honourable (lawmakers)”.
Also, a sum of N48 million was budgeted for the purchase of a Tacoma Hilux (Pilot and Escort) for the Deputy Speaker, and another N48 million was approved for the “Purchase of Official Vehicle (1 no Hilux Van) for the Office of Majority Leader.”
There are however concerns about the governor’s priority as the state government owes pensioners gratuities.
Many of the retirees in the state who are being owed their entitlements have complained of neglect.
