Federal lawmakers from Gombe South Senatorial District have kicked against what they described as a “divisive plot by Senator Danjuma Goje to subvert a bill passed by the House for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Billiri, Gombe State.
The members called on the Senate to stop further deliberations on a duplicate bill which seeks to establish the Federal Medical Centre in Deba instead of Billiri.
The members, in a statement, expressed strong condemnation of the new bill for a federal medical centre in Deba sponsored by Goje, in the same Gombe State whereas there is an already passed bill by the House of Representatives which is awaiting Senate’s concurrence.
The statement jointly signed by Victor Mela Danzaria, representing Billiri Federal Constituency, Karu Simon Elisha, representing Kaltungo Shongom and Senator Bulus Amos who represents Gombe South, urged the Senate not to be misled into perpetuating an injustice against the people of Balanga, Kaltungo, Shongom, Billiri and Akko who are the target beneficiaries of the FMC.
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“Senator Goje knows too well that the Federal Government cannot afford two federal medical centres in Gombe State,” they said.
The members wondered why Senator Goje would sponsor a duplicate bill that would deny the people in the affected five local government areas access to tertiary health care.
“Siting the FMC in Deba will only serve Gombe Central which comprised Yamaltu Debate and Akko both of which are only 20 minutes’ drive from Gombe town which has two existing medical centres, namely FMC Gombe which has been upgraded to a Teaching Hospital and a State Specialist Hospital.