Lawmaker and council presidents bicker over ‘misappropriation’ of N50m medical equipment

The Vice President of the House of The Committee of Representatives on Anti-Corruption, Dachung Musa Bagos (PDP, Plateau), has accused the chairpersons of Jos South and Jos East Local Government Councils in Plateau State of misappropriating medical equipment from worth N50 million.

Bagos said the medical equipment, which is his constituency projects in 2020, was provided by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

He disclosed that the items had been provided in 2021 but had not been distributed to the various primary health care centers in his federal constituency.

Bagos said he was appalled that his constituents were denied access to the equipment despite a letter from NPHCDA to local government councils to distribute the items to beneficiaries.

“It is unacceptable and it is inhumane to prevent people from accessing health equipment and items intended for their well-being.

“Our people are in urgent need of healthcare and here we have the equipment, but we cannot use it because of a few powerful individuals.

“If these items hadn’t been provided by the agency, we would have known. The material has been duly provided and some people have decided to divert it since 2021.”

He urged anti-corruption agencies to investigate the alleged hijacking.

Jos South LGA Chairman Gideon Dandareng, who confirmed receipt of the health equipment, denied the items had been diverted.

He dismissed the allegation as baseless.

He said the items were distributed to targeted health centers in local government areas.