Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has asked the Plateau State Government to share a detailed breakdown of the N10.1 billion it reportedly spent on travel and transport in the first half of 2026.
Mr Dalung made this request in a statement on his verified Facebook page. This came after the state government clarified that the spending covered travel, transport, and related activities across the public service. It did not only cover Governor Caleb Mutfwang's travels.
The former minister said people in Plateau deserve to know how the money was used, especially since it is such a large amount.
The issue arose after a report was published on Wednesday. The report showed that 33 state governments spent at least N512.10 billion on Government Houses, Governors’ Offices, and travel and transport in the first half of 2026.
The analysis, based on budget reports, revealed that Plateau had the highest spending on travel and transport among the states, with N10.1 billion listed under that budget category.
On Thursday, the Plateau State Government issued a statement. The government said the figure included the wider public service, which comprises ministries, departments, agencies, tertiary institutions, the judiciary, and the State House of Assembly.
The statement was signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap. It mentioned that the biggest parts of the spending were from the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, leave passage entitlements, and training-related travel by various agencies.
The government added that the spending also included overseas training for lecturers at Plateau State University, Christian pilgrimage, travel for the judiciary, official trips by the House of Assembly, sponsorship of 200 students to India, and medical support for citizens abroad.
It stated that Mr Mutfwang made only three international trips between January and June 2026.
According to the government, these trips were to the United States in January, the United Kingdom in March, and another trip to the UK in June.
The government explained that these trips were for official engagements. They included attending the Presidential Prayer Breakfast and an international dialogue on multi-faith coexistence. They also aimed at building partnerships in tourism and other sectors.
Mr Dalung acknowledged the government's explanation that the N10.1 billion did not only cover the governor’s travels.
But he insisted that this explanation should be followed by a full disclosure of how the money was spent.
“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,” he said.
“Fair enough. But I have a question here.”
Mr Dalung pointed out that the state has received significant funds since Mr Mutfwang took office in May 2023. He added that the public should be able to see how such resources are being used.
He asked the government to reveal how much was spent on pilgrimage, leave passages, overseas training, the 200 students sponsored to India, medical assistance abroad, the judiciary, the House of Assembly, and the governor’s international trips.
“Not because every travel expenditure is necessarily wasteful. Not because training public servants is wrong. Not because scholarships or medical assistance abroad are wrong,” he said.
“But because N10.1 billion is public money.”
Mr Dalung stated that the government had not been accused of stealing the money. But publishing the detailed spending would allow citizens to see if the funds were used for the public good.
“Publish the detailed breakdown. The money belongs to Plateau,” he said.
“And if every naira was properly spent in the public interest, then opening the books should not weaken the government. It should strengthen its case.
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