How federal lawmakers shared money extorted from universities

Amid the Nationwide Meeting’s denial of extorting universities and different tertiary establishments to go their 2025 budgets, some senators have confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES how the final largesse was shared.

Some senators from the Senate Committee on Tertiary Establishments and TETFUND instructed this newspaper that they acquired $1,000 as “appreciation cash” however have been unaware of its supply till a PREMIUM TIMES report uncovered the continuing corruption.

Earlier, this newspaper reported how the Senate Committee on Tertiary Establishments and TETFUND, together with the Home Committee on College Training, demanded ₦8 million from every federal college within the nation. The investigation revealed that lawmakers collected ₦480 million from college heads and threatened to “deal” with vice-chancellors who refused to cooperate.

Within the Senate, many senators belonging to the committee every acquired $1,000 as “appreciation cash.” One supply, who spoke anonymously, stated most committee members have been unaware of the scheme and acquired the cash in envelopes with out realizing the supply.

“Members would not have sufficient details about what is going on. They solely obtain pittances in envelopes, known as ‘appreciation cash’ from companies.”

One other lawmaker corroborated that disclosure, including that whereas many lawmakers see such funds as typical, some refuse to just accept them. The supply named two senators from Sokoto and Lagos, who don’t partake within the sharing of cash.

Some senators additionally complained about poorly managed committees, with chairpersons, deputies, and clerks controlling operations.

“The chairpersons, deputies, and clerks run many committees. Generally, we don’t even know who the committee members are,” the lawmaker added.

Extortion Past Universities

The extortion by lawmakers is just not restricted to universities—polytechnics and schools of schooling have additionally been focused.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that one other set of committees of the Nationwide Meeting has collected N528 million from 66 polytechnics and schools of schooling to go the budgets of those establishments.

The committees, comprising the Senate Committee on Tertiary Establishments and TETFUND and the Home Committees on Polytechnics and Faculties of Training, coerced 35 polytechnics and 31 schools of schooling to pay cash in alternate for passing their budgets. An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES has revealed that the cash was collected in money to keep away from tracing.

That is the most recent bribery scandal involving committees of the Nationwide Meeting, which have turned the continuing finances defence actions right into a “bribery bazaar,” focusing on federal tertiary establishments.

Some lawmakers confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the committees, throughout separate conferences with provosts and rectors, demanded that every college pay N8 million to be shared between the Home and Senate committees.

The assembly with the provosts of faculties of schooling occurred on 14 January. Sources instructed this paper that the Nationwide Fee for Faculties of Training (NCCE) representatives have been additionally current. In the meantime, the assembly with the rectors of polytechnics happened on 15 January, and representatives of the Nationwide Board for Technical Training (NBTE), the physique representing polytechnics, have been additionally in attendance.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted the Home Committee on Polytechnic Training Chairman, Faud Laguda, for feedback. Nonetheless, he didn’t reply calls or reply to a textual content message despatched to his telephone.

It’s unclear how members of the Home shared the largesse. All makes an attempt to get members to talk on the matter have been unsuccessful. Nonetheless, a supply within the Senate knowledgeable this paper that the respective committees of the Home acquired the identical funds because the Senate.

A bribery scandal and a face-saving recreation

Because the final report on the matter was revealed, there have been strikes to discredit PREMIUM TIMES’ report. This started with a press assertion issued by the Home by means of its spokesperson, Akin Rotomi. Within the assertion, the Home defended its committees with out conducting any investigation.

In the identical assertion, the Home attacked the administration of some faculties, stating that the committees on Tertiary Training have been getting ready reviews on the establishment’s actions, together with instances of corruption, allegations of sexual harassment, and audit report indictments.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the Home’s use of threats is fostering a tradition of silence amongst many vice-chancellors, who concern using legislative devices for retaliation.

Within the report, PREMIUM TIMES highlighted how some vice-chancellors refused to cooperate with the lawmakers’ calls for. The committee reportedly singled out and threatened the Vice-Chancellor of the College of Gusau, Abubakar Gusau.

Reacting to the report, Hassan Fulata, the chairperson of the Home Committee on College Training, held a press briefing final week. He claimed Mr Gusau offended the committee by refusing its members entry to the college throughout an oversight go to. He added that the vice-chancellor didn’t present particulars of the 2024 finances.

Nonetheless, Mr Fulata by no means raised the problem of insubordination by the vice chancellor till this paper revealed its report.

READ ALSO: INVESTIGATION: Nigerian lawmakers demand N480 million from universities to approve 2025 finances

Days later, Mr Gusau wrote a letter to the identical committee, denouncing the story and pledging loyalty.

“We pledge to work assiduously to cement additional such a relationship within the curiosity of the general improvement of the college,” the assertion learn partly.

PREMIUM TIMES maintains that the statements by the vice-chancellor and different people are mere face-saving video games for these caught within the bribery scandal we reported.

Web page deliberate and produced by: Esther Adaji