Plateau State Govt challenged over N10.1bn travel spending

Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has called on the Plateau State Government to publicly disclose how it spent N10.1 billion on travel and transport in the first six months of 2026. This demand follows the state government's clarification that the substantial sum covered broader public service expenses, not solely the governor's personal travel.

Dalung insists that Plateau residents have a right to transparency regarding such significant expenditures. The controversy emerged after a report revealed that 33 state governments collectively spent at least N512.10 billion on government houses, offices, and travel during the first half of 2026. Plateau State reportedly recorded the highest travel and transport expenditure among the states analyzed.

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To be fair, Government says this was not money spent on the Governor’s travels alone. It covered the wider public service, including MDAs, tertiary institutions, the Judiciary, House of Assembly, pilgrim boards, training, leave passages, scholarships and medical assistance abroad.

In response, the Plateau State Government, through Information Commissioner Joyce Ramnap, stated that the N10.1 billion figure encompassed ministries, departments, agencies, tertiary institutions, the judiciary, and the State House of Assembly. The government specified that major allocations included funds for the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, leave entitlements, and training-related travel. Overseas training for university lecturers, Christian pilgrimages, judicial travel, and official legislative trips were also cited, alongside sponsoring students abroad and providing medical assistance.

The government further detailed that Governor Caleb Mutfwang undertook only three international trips between January and June 2026, attending official engagements such as the Presidential Prayer Breakfast and an international dialogue on multi-faith coexistence, alongside efforts to foster tourism and other partnerships. Dalung acknowledged this explanation but reiterated his call for a comprehensive, itemized disclosure of the funds' usage across the public service.

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Fair enough.