Reps dismiss reports on demand of N480m to approve varsities’ 2025 budgets

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on University Education, Abubakar Fulata, has dismissed reports on the alleged demand of N480 million as a condition for approving some varsities’ 2025 budgets by the lawmakers.

Fulata, who addressed journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, said the allegation was designed to undermine the efforts of the committee to improve the standard of education in the country.

The lawmaker said it was ridiculous for anyone or group to suggest that lawmakers demanded money to approve a budget proposal.

Fulata, who listed some plans by the House to improve learning conditions in the universities, said some university managements refused to give an account of their stewardship.

He said the committee in 2024 carried out oversight visits to all federal universities under its supervision, except the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara.

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The chairman alleged that the institution’s authorities not only blocked the legislators from accessing the school but also failed to provide documents on the budget performances for 2022 and 2024 as well as the 2025 budget proposal.

He said: “Instead, they (vice-chancellors) have resorted to blackmail, smear campaigns and sponsorship of public outcry against the committee.

“The committee has placed the matter before the leadership of the house, insisting that the house should not approve the budgets of all institutions whose chief executives refused to come and defend their budgets.”

He urged the media to always cross-check the information at their disposal before making such public.

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