The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has raised alarm over the 2026 budget, highlighting what it calls a glaring imbalance in spending priorities.
The party criticised the state government for allocating over N25 billion for vehicles, compared with just N69 million for drugs and medical supplies.
The opposition party argued that a government prioritising bulletproof luxury vehicles over essential medicines for children and learning materials for students cannot genuinely claim to pursue development.
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Details of the budget show that N23.3 billion was earmarked for government vehicles and transport, including N2.1 billion for 27 Toyota Fortuner SUVs intended for 26 legislators and a clerk.
PDP, through its Director of Media and Public Communications, Wande Ajayi, said the allocation reflects the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) focus on elite comfort rather than public service.
He added, “By simple arithmetic, this government has budgeted less than N15 per person for medicines for an entire year in a state grappling with failing primary healthcare, rising maternal mortality, and preventable diseases. Lawmakers’ luxury SUVs alone cost four times more than the N515 million allocated for educational materials and equipment across the state.”
Reacting, the APC’s state Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, defended the budget, insisting the vehicles are not luxury items but necessary tools for lawmakers to perform their duties.
He said, “It is both disingenuous and intellectually dishonest to isolate single line items within a comprehensive budget framework while ignoring the extensive and well-documented investments being made in healthcare, education, infrastructure, agriculture, and social welfare programmes.”
