Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has ordered the immediate dismissal and prosecution of staff members of Umaisha General Hospital in Toto Local Government Area over allegations that they sold medical equipment and other items donated to the facility.
The governor gave the directive on Wednesday in Lafia while speaking at the commissioning of ACReSAL heavy-duty equipment. The allegations surfaced after a video circulated on social media showing Sa’ad Abdullahi, a member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly representing Umaisha/Ugya Constituency, confronting hospital management over the whereabouts of items he had donated.
The lawmaker said he personally donated 50 fans, 50 orthopaedic mattresses and other materials to improve conditions for patients and support healthcare delivery at the hospital. Following the allegations, Governor Sule directed the Commissioner for Health to investigate the matter and ensure that any staff found responsible are dismissed and prosecuted.
“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.Sule said dismissal alone would not be enough, stressing that anyone found culpable must face legal consequences for allegedly depriving patients of materials meant for their welfare.
He also directed the Head of Service and the Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission to ensure that appropriate disciplinary and legal action is taken against any officials found guilty.The governor described the alleged sale or diversion of donated items as unacceptable, particularly because such actions could negatively affect healthcare delivery.
He stressed that public servants must combine professional competence with honesty, integrity and patriotism, especially those working in the health sector. The incident has also raised concerns about the monitoring and management of donated equipment and materials in government-owned healthcare facilities.
