By Premium Times
In a shocking revelation, Premium Times has uncovered a widespread bribery scheme orchestrated by Nigerian lawmakers, targeting federal universities and other tertiary institutions under the guise of budget approvals. Using threats and intimidation, members of the National Assembly are reportedly extorting millions of naira from university leaders to secure allocations in the 2025 federal budget.
The investigation exposes how senators and representatives, operating through the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, as well as the House Committee on University Education, have devised an elaborate system of extortion. Vice-chancellors of 60 federal universities are allegedly being forced to cough up a staggering N8 million each—N4 million for the Senate Committee and another N4 million for the House Committee.
The lawmakers have reportedly assigned two vice-chancellors from the North-Central and North-West geopolitical zones to oversee and coordinate the payments, ensuring the bribery scheme remains discreet. The total haul from this extortion is expected to reach a jaw-dropping N480 million.
Budget Defence: A Smokescreen for Corruption?
This scandal comes to light amidst the ongoing 2025 budget defence sessions in the National Assembly, where ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are required to justify their financial proposals. In December 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the 2025 federal budget to a joint session of the National Assembly, marking the beginning of the appropriation process. However, the extortion allegations cast a dark shadow over what should be a legitimate legislative exercise.
According to insider sources, vice-chancellors who fail to comply with the lawmakers’ demands face threats of having their budgetary allocations slashed or delayed. The intimidation tactics, combined with the central coordination of payments, highlight the extent of the lawmakers’ grip on the system and the impunity with which they operate.
The alleged extortion scheme underscores the deeply entrenched corruption within Nigeria’s legislative process. It raises concerns about the accountability of lawmakers entrusted with overseeing the country’s education sector, which is already plagued by underfunding and mismanagement.
Observers argue that such practices not only undermine the independence of tertiary institutions but also exacerbate the challenges facing Nigeria’s education system. Many have called for a thorough investigation into the matter and the prosecution of those involved, as the allegations directly contravene the principles of transparency and good governance.
The revelation has sparked outrage among education stakeholders, civil society organizations, and ordinary Nigerians, who have condemned the alleged actions of the lawmakers. Many argue that extorting money from already-struggling universities is a betrayal of public trust and an affront to the principles of democracy.
“If these allegations are true, it is a disgraceful indictment of our legislative system. Our universities are already underfunded; extorting them further will only worsen the crisis in the education sector,” said a lecturer from a prominent federal university who spoke on condition of anonymity.
As the nation awaits an official response from the leadership of the National Assembly, there are growing calls for anti-corruption agencies to step in and investigate the allegations. Many believe this scandal represents a litmus test for President Tinubu’s administration, which has repeatedly vowed to root out corruption in all sectors of government.
The unfolding drama once again puts Nigeria’s anti-graft fight under scrutiny. Whether this investigation leads to genuine reform or is swept under the rug remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the question lingers: How long will Nigerians endure a system where those entrusted with public trust exploit it for personal gain?
PIONEER NEWS 