Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has alleged that members of the National Assembly demanded a ₦200 million bribe during his first budget defence while in office.
Dalung made the allegation in a statement reflecting on his years of service in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, the alleged demand came shortly after he presented the ministry’s budget proposal before lawmakers.
Dalung claimed he told the lawmakers there was no provision in the ministry’s budget for such a payment.
“I looked through the budget documents before me and replied that I had not seen any budget line titled ‘bribe.’ I told the committee that since no such provision existed in the ministry’s appropriation, I had no idea where they expected me to obtain ₦200 million,” he said.
The former minister alleged that the meeting ended shortly afterward, with lawmakers informing him that they would continue discussions with the ministry’s Permanent Secretary.
He further claimed that after the incident, he played only a limited role in subsequent budget defence sessions, saying he was often required to present an overview before detailed discussions continued between lawmakers and senior ministry officials.
Dalung also alleged that the practice was not limited to his ministry, claiming that some ministers complied with similar demands to facilitate the passage of their budget proposals.
According to him, such practices weaken legislative oversight, undermine transparency and accountability, and contribute to corruption within public institutions.
He argued that when oversight responsibilities are compromised, public confidence in government institutions is eroded.
Response Awaited
Dalung’s allegations have not been independently verified, and no evidence was presented publicly to support the claims.
As of the time of filing this report, the National Assembly had not issued an official response to the allegations.
