Reps deflect from N400m bribery allegations, blame varsity heads

The House of Representatives has dismissed allegations that lawmakers demanded bribes from Vice-Chancellors of federal universities to approve their 2025 budget allocations.

The lawmakers instead turned the spotlight on university administrators for alleged misconduct and financial mismanagement.

A report had circulated in some sections of the media alleging that lawmakers at the National Assembly were demanding bribes from heads of tertiary institutions to approve their 2025 budget allocations.

The report claimed that the lawmakers, including senators and members of the House of Representatives, were using intimidation and threats to force the heads of universities to pay N8 million each to approve their allocations in the 2025 budgets.

However, rather than directly addressing the bribery claims, the lower chamber, in a statement by its spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, on Wednesday, alleged failings of some Vice-Chancellors, including their failure to appear for budget defense sessions, unresolved audit queries, and governance lapses.

Calling on anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to report to anti-corruption agencies or the House Committee on Ethics, Rotimi said the allegations appear to be part of a deliberate attempt to undermine the integrity of the House and erode public trust in this hallowed institution.

He noted that the 10th House of Representatives is firmly committed to transparency, accountability, and the highest ethical standards in all its legislative activities.

Rotimi insisted that the House will not be distracted by baseless allegations.

The statement said: “The budget process is a constitutionally guided and transparent exercise. The 2025 Appropriation Bill was presented by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to a Joint Session of the National Assembly, attended by key members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the public.

“Following the presentation, various Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been appearing at open and public sessions to defend their budget proposals before the relevant committees. These sessions ensure rigorous scrutiny and accountability in public finance management.

“It is concerning, however, that some heads of federal tertiary institutions have failed to appear for these Budget Defense Sessions, despite their constitutional obligation to do so. This disregard for the legislative process not only impedes legislative oversight and undermines the principles of accountability but also demonstrates disregard for the parliament and the Nigerian people.

“Furthermore, it is a matter of public record that some of these tertiary institutions have pending audit queries from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation and have consistently failed to appear before the House Committee on Public Accounts to clarify these issues. This evasion raises questions about their governance practices and financial stewardship.

“This is in addition to disturbing allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and high-handedness in their dealings with staff and students, for which legislative oversight provides a crucial platform to address in the spirit of transparency.

“It is also noteworthy that recent oversight visits by the House Committee on University Education have revealed troubling governance practices in certain institutions. While the final report is being compiled, preliminary findings in certain institutions suggest a pattern of serious malfeasance that demands thorough investigation.

“These engagements provide an opportunity for institutions to demonstrate accountability, yet some individuals have chosen to deflect with unfounded accusations and blackmail.

“To be clear, the House acknowledges the commitment of the majority of university administrators, who are diligent and patriotic Nigerians working to advance education and national development. However, the actions of a few actors seeking to evade scrutiny cannot be overlooked. The House remains resolute in holding public institutions accountable while respecting due process.

“The House encourages anyone with credible evidence of misconduct to present it to the appropriate authorities, including the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges or anti-corruption agencies like the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to independently investigate any claim of impropriety.”