Solomon Dalung, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has alleged that members of the National Assembly demanded a N200 million bribe from him during his first budget defence under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The demand, according to Dalung, came shortly after he presented the ministry's budget proposal to lawmakers. He stated that no such amount was included in the ministry's appropriation and that he responded by saying he could not locate any budget line titled "bribe."
Dalung said he told the committee that since the N200 million was not in the budget, he did not know where they expected him to source the money. Following his response, he was excused from the meeting, and lawmakers indicated they would continue discussions with the ministry's Permanent Secretary. After the incident, Dalung claimed his role in later budget defences was limited to giving an overview before being asked to leave, while detailed deliberations proceeded without him.
He alleged that the practice of lawmakers engaging senior civil servants behind closed doors was not unique to his ministry. Dalung claimed some ministers, especially those believed to have close ties to the Presidency, routinely paid such sums to ensure smooth passage of their budgets. He said the experience led him to conclude that legislative oversight had in some cases become a tool for personal gain rather than accountability. According to Dalung, compromised oversight institutions enable the diversion of public funds and weaken public trust in governance. His allegations remain unverified. The National Assembly has not issued an official response.
Dalung claims he was asked for N200 million while lawmakers later bypassed him for talks with his Permanent Secretary, suggesting oversight was conditional on payment. His account implies that budget approvals were negotiated behind closed doors, excluding the minister meant to defend them. If true, this turns constitutional scrutiny into a transaction, not transparency. The lack of response from the National Assembly leaves the allegation unchallenged but not unexamined.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
