House of Representatives has parried 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 demanded bribes from heads of tertiary institutions to approve their 2025 budget allocations.

The report claimed the lawmakers, involving 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, yesterday, focused on alleged failings of some vice chancellors, including their failure to appear for budget defence 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 appeared 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 was firmly committed to transparency, accountability and the highest ethical standards in all its legislative activities.

Rotimi insisted that the House would 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, 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 Andrew public sessions to defend their budget proposals before the relevant committees. These sessions ensure rigorous scrutiny and accountability in public finance management.”