The Taraba State Commissioner for Information and Re-orientation, Barrister Zainab Usman Jalingo, is facing growing scrutiny following allegations surrounding the disappearance of funds reportedly earmarked for media coverage during the recent defection of Governor Agbu Kefas from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Multiple sources familiar with the activities of the event’s Publicity Committee alleged that a sum of ₦10 million was proposed and approved for internal and external media engagement ahead of the defection ceremony. However, concerns were raised after the funds were reportedly neither transparently disbursed nor properly accounted for.
Sources within the committee claimed that although the media budget was collectively discussed, key decisions relating to media engagement and logistics were allegedly taken unilaterally by the commissioner, without the full participation or consent of most committee members.
According to findings by this reporter, three national television stations were initially proposed to provide live coverage of the event. However, only one station eventually covered the ceremony, raising questions over the status of funds allegedly budgeted for the remaining stations.
Further allegations emerged from journalists who covered the event, many of whom claimed that the ₦10 million reportedly approved as welfare for both local and visiting journalists was never disbursed. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yusuf Sanda, was quoted by some journalists as stating that no funds were released to his office for media welfare by the Publicity Committee.
Sources also alleged that no publicly verifiable records detailing the approval, allocation, or disbursement of the funds were made available to committee members. These claims have intensified calls for transparency and accountability within the ministry.
The controversy has revived earlier grievances by journalists in the state, who previously accused the commissioner of poor engagement with the media. These grievances reportedly led to the boycott of some government activities in the past, with journalists calling on Governor Kefas to intervene.
Additional concerns were raised by some media practitioners who alleged difficulties in accessing welfare support, including claims that applications for assistance submitted through official channels were not clearly processed or communicated, further fueling suspicion and mistrust.
Observers have also pointed to what they describe as an unusual concentration of influence within the Ministry of Information, alleging that routine media coordination roles traditionally handled by media aides have increasingly been centralized under the commissioner’s office, leading to tension and operational bottlenecks.
As of the time of filing this report, repeated efforts to obtain an official response from Barrister Zainab Usman Jalingo were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to her remained unanswered.
Stakeholders and media observers have urged the Taraba State Government to address the concerns promptly, stressing that transparency in public communication and media relations is critical to sustaining public trust and press freedom.
