Nigerian Lawmakers Demand ₦480 Million Bribe from Universities to Approve 2025 Budget
A PREMIUM TIMES investigation has uncovered a massive bribery scandal involving Nigerian lawmakers and federal universities. Members of the National Assembly are demanding a total of ₦480 million in bribes from 60 universities in exchange for approving their 2025 budgets. The lawmakers, operating through the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund and the House Committee on University Education, are using intimidation and threats to force university heads to pay ₦8 million each.
The Extortion Scheme
This elaborate extortion scheme reportedly began with the House Committee, chaired by Hassan Fulata (APC, Jigawa), during a meeting with vice-chancellors on January 16. Sources from the meeting indicate that the lawmakers were explicit in their demands. They threatened vice-chancellors with probes if they failed to comply.
One vice-chancellor, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration over the ongoing extortion. “They threatened us with probes if we failed to play ball with them,” he said. “Most other agencies are not grumbling like the VCs.”
Coordination of Payments
The lawmakers have assigned two vice-chancellors from the North-central and North-west geopolitical zones to coordinate payments to avoid detection. To complicate tracking further, one of their officials manages the flow of money through numerous accounts. This strategy makes it nearly impossible to confirm compliance with the directive or the amounts paid into these accounts.
Targeting Defiant Vice-Chancellors
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Gusau, Muazu Gusau, has become a particular target after refusing to comply with demands. During the January 16 meeting, Nigerian lawmakers threatened to “deal with” Mr. Gusau for being “stubborn.” It remains unclear what actions led to this hostility, but sources suggest he may have previously rejected requests for bribes.
Chronic Underfunding of Universities
This bribery scandal emerges amid chronic underfunding of Nigerian universities by the government. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has repeatedly urged proper funding for universities, but issues remain unresolved. In 2009, the federal government agreed to invest ₦1.5 trillion in university funding following negotiations with ASUU. However, despite several rounds of renegotiation, the government has consistently failed to meet this commitment.
A Pattern of Extortion by Nigerian Lawmakers
This is not the first instance of Nigerian lawmakers being accused of extorting money from universities. In 2023, PREMIUM TIMES reported on a similar scheme targeting universities, colleges of education, and polytechnics. Lawmakers used a Bureau De Change operator to collect illicit funds. Although this investigation led to an ICPC probe, little has been heard since.
One vice-chancellor expressed concerns about facing further investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), recalling previous experiences. However, one Nigerian lawmaker reportedly dismissed these concerns, claiming that even the ICPC and Inspector General of Police (IGP) appear before them to defend their budgets.
PREMIUM TIMES contacted ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare regarding allegations of compromise against the agency. He laughed off claims that ICPC had paid money to any committee. “You can see that I’m laughing. I’m hearing this for the first time,” he said, promising to check for any awareness on such issues but did not follow up as promised.
A Call for Accountability
The ongoing demands for bribes highlight a blatant abuse of power and a betrayal of public trust by Nigerian lawmakers. Authorities must take swift action to investigate these allegations and bring perpetrators to justice. Additionally, addressing university underfunding is crucial for ensuring that Nigerian students receive quality education.
This investigation raises serious questions about the integrity of the Nigerian National Assembly and its commitment to serving public interests. It serves as a wake-up call for greater transparency and accountability in managing public funds.
