Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has ordered the dismissal and prosecution of hospital staff allegedly involved in the sale of items donated to Umaisha General Hospital in Toto Local Government Area….
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has ordered the dismissal and prosecution of hospital staff allegedly involved in the sale of items donated to Umaisha General Hospital in Toto Local Government Area.
Sule gave the directive on Wednesday during the swearing-in of eight commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries and board members at the Aliyu Akwe-Doma Banquet Hall, Government House, Lafia.
He also directed the Commissioner for Health to investigate the allegation and submit a report before the end of the week.
The governor’s directive followed a viral video showing Sa’ad Abdullahi, lawmaker representing Umaisha/Ugya constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, confronting hospital officials over the whereabouts of items he donated to the facility.
The donation comprised 50 orthopaedic mattresses, 50 ceiling fans and 40 standing fans.
Sule said the lawmaker made the donation out of concern for the condition of healthcare facilities in his constituency.
“I have already asked the Honourable Commissioner for Health to investigate, to dismiss and fire the hell out of them, and after that, to prosecute them,” the governor said.
He said dismissal alone would not be enough, insisting that officials found culpable must face prosecution over what he described as an “inhuman attitude”.
“Firing them to go free will not give us peace of mind until we prosecute them for this inhuman attitude of theirs. We cannot tolerate that,” Sule said.
The governor also directed the Head of Service and Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission to ensure that any officials found culpable face appropriate disciplinary and legal action.
The controversy emerged after a video circulated on social media on Monday showing Abdullahi questioning hospital officials during a visit to assess the facility and inspect the use of the donated items.
In the video, the lawmaker disputed a mattress shown to him by a hospital staff member, asking officials to account for the donated mattresses and fans.
He also expressed concern about the condition of patients at the hospital, saying the items were purchased with his personal funds to improve healthcare services for his constituents.
A hospital staff member later explained that about seven of the 50 mattresses had temporarily been given to discharged patients, with an arrangement for their return.
The state government’s investigation is expected to establish what happened to the donated items and determine whether any officials should face disciplinary or criminal proceedings.
