Plateau Govt Clarifies N10.11bn Travel Spending, Says Mutfwang Made Three Foreign Trips

The Plateau State Government has clarified the reported N10.11 billion expenditure on travel and transport in the first six months of 2026, saying the figure covers activities across the wider public service and does not represent spending by Governor Caleb Mutfwang or the Government House alone.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnam, made this known in a statement while responding to criticism over the expenditure.

Ramnam said, “The amount does not represent expenditure on the travels of the Governor or Government House. It is an aggregate expenditure covering travel, transport and related activities across the wider Plateau State public service, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), tertiary institutions, the Judiciary and the Plateau State House of Assembly, as well as statutory personnel-related entitlements.”

She explained that the administration considers the training and retraining of public servants important to addressing manpower gaps and improving service delivery.

“It is important to note that the administration of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has placed high premium on the training and retraining of public servants as a critical component of bridging manpower gaps, strengthening institutional capacity and equipping personnel with the requisite skills and expertise to serve the people and deliver effectively across the various MDAs of the State,” she said.

According to the commissioner, a detailed review of the expenditure showed that the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, leave passage entitlements and training-related travels by various MDAs accounted for the largest share.

“These were followed by the training of Plateau State University lecturers abroad, the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, judiciary-related travels, and approved official travel-related expenditures for the Plateau State House of Assembly,” Ramnam added.

She also disclosed that the expenditure included the government’s sponsorship of 200 students on scholarship to India, medical assistance to citizens abroad and other official engagements.

Ramnam further clarified that Governor Mutfwang made only three international trips between January and June 2026, the period covered by the report.

She said the governor travelled to the United States in January at the invitation of the organisers to attend the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, describing the trip as an opportunity to build strategic networks and explore partnerships.

In March, Mutfwang travelled to the United Kingdom as part of President Bola Tinubu’s delegation, while he returned to the UK in June to attend an international dialogue on multi-faith coexistence.

According to Ramnam, the governor used the trips to pursue partnerships and explore opportunities in tourism and other critical sectors aimed at attracting investment, expanding economic opportunities and improving the living conditions of Plateau residents.

“The Mutfwang Administration remains committed to serving the people of Plateau State with integrity, responsibility and accountability,” she said.

Ramnam assured residents that the government would continue to provide accurate and verifiable information on its expenditures and financial activities.

“The Plateau State Government, therefore, reassures citizens that it will remain open, accountable and responsive, while continuing to uphold the highest standards of financial discipline, transparency and responsible governance in the collective interest of the people of the State,” she said.