In a shocking revelation, Nigerian lawmakers have been accused of using intimidation and threats to extort N8 million from federal university vice chancellors to approve their budget allocations for 2025. An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES has exposed an elaborate scheme involving both the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, as well as the House Committee on University Education.
The extortion plot requires each of the 60 federal university vice chancellors to pay N8 million, split evenly between the Senate and House Committees. The total amount sought by the lawmakers reportedly amounts to a staggering N480 million. To avoid detection, the scheme is allegedly being coordinated by two vice chancellors from the North Central and North West geopolitical zones.
This scheme unfolds against the backdrop of the federal budget process. In December 2024, President Bola Tinubu presented the federal budget to the National Assembly, initiating a series of budget defence sessions where ministries, departments, and agencies justify their allocations before lawmakers. However, for university vice chancellors, this process has reportedly been marred by brazen demands for bribes.
Vice chancellors who refuse to comply with the lawmakers’ demands have been threatened with probes or the non-approval of their institutions’ budgets. According to sources, the extortion began during a meeting on January 16, chaired by Hassan Fulata (APC, Jigawa), the head of the House Committee. During this meeting, vice chancellors were given explicit instructions to comply with the payment demands. The meeting, initially scheduled for 10 a.m., was delayed to 3 p.m. due to closed-door discussions between lawmakers and some vice chancellors.
One vice chancellor, speaking anonymously to avoid victimisation, disclosed that the lawmakers harshly criticised university heads for their lack of cooperation, contrasting their resistance with other agencies that reportedly comply without hesitation. The tone of the meeting turned threatening, with lawmakers allegedly “cajoling, threatening, and humiliating” some vice chancellors to secure their compliance.
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“They threatened us with probes if we failed to play ball,” the source revealed. “Most other agencies are not grumbling like the VCs.”
The vice chancellors reportedly expressed frustration and resentment over the lawmakers’ demands. However, the more they protested, the more aggressive the lawmakers became, escalating their threats of investigations and probes. Some vice chancellors raised concerns about the possibility of further scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies like the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), citing past experiences exposed by similar investigations.
Over the years, allegations of bribery and the insertion of fraudulent projects into the federal budget have plagued Nigeria’s legislative process. This latest revelation highlights the systemic corruption and abuse of power that continues to erode trust in the nation’s institutions.
As the National Assembly moves forward with its budgetary deliberations, the spotlight remains on these allegations, with Nigerians calling for accountability and transparency. The alleged extortion scheme has sparked widespread outrage, fueling calls for a thorough investigation to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s education sector and the federal budget process.
