Budget Scandal: How Federal Lawmakers Extorted Millions from Tertiary Institutions
A shocking corruption scandal has rocked Nigeria’s National Assembly, as federal lawmakers are accused of extorting millions of naira from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to pass their 2025 budgets. Despite denials from the National Assembly, investigations by PREMIUM TIMES reveal how lawmakers systematically demanded bribes from tertiary institutions, with some senators admitting to receiving “appreciation money” in exchange for favorable budget approvals.
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The Extortion Scheme
According to multiple sources within the Senate, members of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND received $1,000 each as “appreciation money” during the budget defense process. While some senators claimed they were unaware of the source of the funds, others confirmed that the payments were part of a broader scheme to extort money from tertiary institutions.
Earlier reports by PREMIUM TIMES exposed how the Senate and House committees demanded ₦8 million from each federal university, totaling ₦480 million from 60 institutions. Lawmakers allegedly threatened to “deal with” vice-chancellors who refused to comply, using legislative instruments to intimidate and silence dissent.
One senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that most committee members were kept in the dark about the scheme. “Members do not have enough information about what is happening. They only receive pittances in envelopes, referred to as ‘appreciation money’ from agencies,” the source said.
Extortion Beyond Universities
The extortion was not limited to universities. Investigations reveal that lawmakers also targeted polytechnics and colleges of education, collecting ₦528 million from 66 institutions. Each polytechnic and college of education was coerced into paying ₦8 million to secure budget approvals.
The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, along with the House Committees on Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, allegedly orchestrated the scheme. Meetings were held with provosts and rectors, where the demands were made in the presence of representatives from the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
A Culture of Silence and Intimidation
The scandal has exposed a culture of silence and intimidation within Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. Many vice-chancellors, provosts, and rectors fear retaliation from lawmakers and have chosen to comply with the demands rather than risk budget delays or public humiliation.
In one instance, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gusau, Abubakar Gusau, was singled out and threatened for refusing to cooperate with the lawmakers’ demands. Hassan Fulata, Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, later accused Gusau of insubordination, claiming the vice-chancellor denied committee members access to the university during an oversight visit. However, these allegations were only raised after PREMIUM TIMES published its report, raising questions about their credibility.
Lawmakers’ Face-Saving Games
In response to the exposé, the National Assembly has launched a face-saving campaign to discredit the reports. The House of Representatives, through its spokesperson Akin Rotimi, issued a statement defending its committees without conducting any investigation. The statement also threatened to expose corruption within tertiary institutions, including cases of sexual harassment and audit report indictments.
Meanwhile, some vice-chancellors have issued statements praising the lawmakers, likely under pressure to protect their institutions from further retaliation. PREMIUM TIMES maintains that these statements are mere attempts to save face and deflect attention from the bribery scandal.
A Critical Perspective
The revelations underscore the systemic corruption plaguing Nigeria’s legislative and educational systems. Lawmakers, entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing public institutions, have instead turned budget defense sessions into a “bribery bazaar,” exploiting their power for personal gain.
The scandal also highlights the vulnerability of tertiary institutions, which rely on government funding for their operations. By withholding budget approvals, lawmakers have effectively held these institutions hostage, forcing them to pay bribes to secure essential funding.
While some senators have claimed ignorance of the scheme, their acceptance of “appreciation money” raises serious ethical questions. The fact that only a few lawmakers, such as two senators from Sokoto and Lagos, have refused to partake in the sharing of money speaks volumes about the moral decay within the National Assembly.
The Bigger Picture
This scandal is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of corruption within Nigeria’s political system. It reflects the failure of oversight mechanisms to hold lawmakers accountable and the lack of transparency in budgetary processes.
The implications are dire for Nigeria’s education sector, already struggling with inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and frequent strikes. The extortion of funds meant for tertiary institutions further exacerbates these challenges, undermining the quality of education and the future of millions of students.
The budget scandal involving federal lawmakers and tertiary institutions is a stark reminder of the urgent need for accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s governance. While the National Assembly continues to deny the allegations, the evidence presented by PREMIUM TIMES paints a damning picture of systemic corruption.
For Nigeria to move forward, it must address the root causes of this corruption, strengthen oversight mechanisms, and hold those responsible accountable. The future of Nigeria’s education system—and indeed, its democracy—depends on it.
Reference
Budget Scandal: How Federal Lawmakers Extorted Millions from Tertiary Institutions