Following the condemnation of the deplorable state of the State House Clinic in Aso Rock by Aisha Buhari, The first Lady, the House of Reps have asked for an investigation into the state of affairs of the clinic.
The House of Representatives on Thursday mandated its Committee on Healthcare Services to carry out the investigation on the deplorable condition of the State House Clinic and also to look into the issue of alleged deductions from the salaries and allowances of the clinic’s medical staff.
A member of the House of Representatives, Henry Archibong, representing Akwa Ibom – PDP, had moved the motion for the investigation in a plenary session on Thursday said in the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Appropriation Acts, the clinic was allocated the sums of N3.94 billion, N3.87 billion and N3.2 billion, respectively, for upgrading and provision of necessary drugs and equipment, yet the clinic lacks a lot of things
He said “In spite of those huge budgetary allocations, the clinic lacks necessary facilities such as syringes, drugs and equipment needed for saving lives,’’ he said.
He further said “I am aware that the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, complained publicly during a stakeholders’ meeting on Reproductive, Maternal, Nutrition, Child Advocacy and Health and Nutrition (RMNCAHN) at the State House of her inability to access health care needs at the clinic when she took ill recently, but was rather advised by the health providers to fly out of country for treatment.
“I acknowledge that her refusal to heed the advice of the health providers and insisting on obtaining medical care in Nigeria saved the country millions of dollars in foreign exchange and was also an act of patriotism and selflessness worthy of commendation,”
The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to voice vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.
The Committee on Healthcare Services is expected to report its findings within three weeks for further legislative action.
The State House Clinic was established to take care of the health needs of the President, the Vice-President, their family members as well as members of staff of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
