A report by Premium Times has alleged that some lawmakers in Nigeria’s National Assembly have established a bribery scheme, coercing federal universities and other tertiary institutions to pay ₦8 million each to secure budget approvals for 2025.
The extortion reportedly involves senators and members of the House of Representatives, operating through the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, as well as the House Committee on University Education.
The scheme requires vice chancellors of 60 federal universities to remit ₦8 million each—₦4 million to the Senate Committee and ₦4 million to the House Committee. If executed, the scheme could yield ₦480 million.
According to the report, two vice chancellors from the North Central and North West geopolitical zones have been tasked with coordinating the payments to avoid detection.
The bribery allegations came to light after a meeting on January 16, 2025, chaired by Hassan Fulata (APC, Jigawa), head of the House Committee on University Education. During the meeting, lawmakers reportedly issued clear instructions to the vice chancellors regarding the payments.
The meeting, initially scheduled for 10 a.m., was delayed until 3 p.m. to allow behind-the-scenes discussions between lawmakers and some university heads.
One vice chancellor, speaking anonymously, described the lawmakers’ demands as explicit and threatening.
“They criticised us for not cooperating, unlike other institutions that comply without resistance,” the source said.
The lawmakers reportedly escalated their threats when the vice chancellors voiced complaints. The tone of the meeting turned hostile, with legislators allegedly using cajoling, threats, and humiliation to pressure the university leaders into compliance.
“They threatened us with probes if we failed to play ball with them,” one vice chancellor revealed.
While some vice chancellors expressed frustration over the repeated extortion, their grievances reportedly met with increased aggression from the lawmakers. Sources indicated that the lawmakers dismissed the complaints, emphasizing that other agencies complied without resistance.
The allegations have sparked outrage among education stakeholders and the general public, with calls for an immediate investigation into the matter. Critics argue that such practices undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system and perpetuate corruption at the highest levels of government.
As of now, neither the National Assembly nor the accused lawmakers have officially responded to the allegations. However, observers are demanding accountability and transparency in the budgeting process to safeguard the country’s educational institutions from further exploitation.
