INVESTIGATION: Legislators Demand N480 Million from Universities to Pass 2025 Budget
A recent investigation has uncovered a disturbing bribery scheme involving some Nigerian lawmakers who are demanding millions from federal universities to approve their 2025 budget allocations. The scheme, which targets university vice-chancellors, involves clear intimidation tactics as lawmakers demand hefty payments in exchange for budget approvals.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has intercepted two women suspected of being trafficked through Niger Republic on their way to Algeria. Thanks to a tip-off from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the two victims were stopped at the Tureta checkpoint near Sokoto State, a known hotspot for human trafficking.
Our investigation reveals that lawmakers, including both senators and House members, are pressuring university leaders to pay N8 million each to ensure their institutions’ budget allocations pass. This amount is split between the Senate and House Committees on Education, with a total of N480 million expected from 60 federal universities.
This extortion scheme, first set in motion by the House Committee on University Education under the leadership of Hassan Fulata, continues to cause immense frustration among university vice-chancellors. Those who resist the demands are threatened with investigations and non-approval of their budgets, adding another layer of pressure to an already strained system.
The scandal doesn’t stop there. The lawmakers are reportedly using complex methods to collect these bribes, making it nearly impossible to trace the transactions. Some vice-chancellors are facing demands from multiple committees, intensifying their struggles as they try to secure funding for their institutions amid ongoing government underfunding.
One vice-chancellor, specifically from the Federal University of Gusau, has become a target for his refusal to comply with the lawmakers’ demands. He was reportedly singled out during a meeting on January 16, with lawmakers threatening to “deal with” him for his defiance.
This latest scheme comes on the heels of previous reports exposing similar bribery tactics, underscoring the persistent culture of corruption in Nigeria’s National Assembly. While the government continues to underfund universities, lawmakers are exploiting the situation to line their pockets, further exacerbating the crisis facing higher education in Nigeria.
As the investigation continues, the focus shifts to holding those responsible accountable and ensuring that universities are funded fairly and transparently, without the interference of corrupt practices.
