Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has ordered an investigation into the alleged sale of medical equipment donated to the General Hospital in Umaisha, with those found responsible facing arrest and prosecution.
The governor directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna, to investigate the allegation and submit a report by the end of the week.
Sule gave the directive on Wednesday during the inauguration of eight commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries and board members at the Government House in Lafia.
He described the alleged disposal of the equipment as unacceptable and warned that misconduct by health workers could negatively affect patients and healthcare delivery in the state.
The governor said the equipment was purchased and donated to the hospital by Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad, the lawmaker representing Umaisha/Ugya Constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, to improve conditions for patients.
According to Sule, Sa’ad later visited the facility and discovered that some of the items he donated had allegedly been sold.
The controversy emerged after a confrontation on Monday between the lawmaker and hospital staff over the whereabouts of the equipment.
In a video shared on social media, Sa’ad demanded explanations over 50 orthopaedic mattresses, more than 50 ceiling fans and about 40 standing fans he said he had bought for the hospital.
He also questioned reports that some of the mattresses were being moved from one ward to another and demanded that hospital officials account for the items.
Sule said the investigation would determine what happened to the donated equipment and establish whether any health officials were involved in wrongdoing.
The governor further directed that anyone found culpable should face the full consequences of the law.
