Nigerian Lawmakers Request N480 Million from Universities for Approval of 2025 Budget

Nigerian lawmakers have reportedly set up a bribery scheme targeting federal universities, demanding N8 million from each vice-chancellor to approve their institutions’ 2025 budget allocations. The extortion, involving both senators and House members, is being carried out through the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, and the House Committee on University Education. A total of N480 million is expected to be collected, with two vice-chancellors from the North-central and North-west zones coordinating the payments to avoid detection.

Vice-chancellors who resist are threatened with probes or the withholding of their budgets. This scheme was set in motion by the House Committee on January 16, during a meeting where vice-chancellors were openly pressured to comply. The lawmakers criticized those who hesitated, claiming that other institutions complied without resistance. The tone of the meeting became increasingly menacing, with some vice-chancellors being humiliated and threatened with investigations if they refused to participate.

This extortion scheme is part of a long history of bribery allegations against lawmakers, including a similar incident in 2023 when a House committee was found to have used a Bureau De Change operator to collect illicit funds from universities, colleges of education, and polytechnics. The investigation led to an ICPC probe, but little progress has been reported on the matter. The ongoing situation highlights the growing concern over corruption within the Nigerian National Assembly and the pressure it places on educational institutions to comply with illicit demands.

Source: PremiumTimes