By Comfort Chukwukelue
The House of Representatives has strongly refuted allegations that some lawmakers are demanding bribes from Vice-Chancellors of federal universities in exchange for approving their 2025 budget allocations.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, House Spokesman Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr. dismissed the claims published by PREMIUM TIMES, describing them as “baseless and sensational.” He emphasized that the 10th House remains committed to transparency, accountability, and ethical governance, stressing that the report appears to be a deliberate attempt to undermine the integrity of the legislature.
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Rotimi reaffirmed that the budget process follows constitutional guidelines and is conducted with public scrutiny. He highlighted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR had presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill before a Joint Session of the National Assembly, with key members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the public in attendance.
Following this, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been appearing before legislative committees in open sessions to defend their budget proposals. These sessions, he stated, are designed to ensure rigorous scrutiny and accountability in the management of public funds.
However, the House Spokesman expressed concern over the failure of some university administrators to attend their budget defense sessions, despite their constitutional obligation to do so. This, he noted, hampers legislative oversight and public accountability.
Rotimi further pointed out that some of these institutions have pending audit queries from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation but have consistently failed to appear before the House Committee on Public Accounts to address them.
He also cited ongoing oversight investigations into federal universities, revealing troubling governance issues. While a final report is still being compiled, preliminary findings suggest a pattern of financial mismanagement and administrative malfeasance in certain institutions.
“Legislative oversight is a crucial platform for ensuring transparency,” he said. “Yet, rather than engaging with due process, some individuals have resorted to deflecting with unfounded accusations.”
Rotimi also took issue with PREMIUM TIMES, accusing the news outlet of failing to uphold the principles of balanced journalism. He claimed that the publication did not seek the House’s response before publishing the report and only reached out two days after its release.
“The report amplifies fabricated narratives by individuals seeking to evade accountability,” he said. “We challenge anyone with credible evidence of misconduct to present it to the relevant authorities, including the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges or anti-corruption agencies like the ICPC.”
Legislative Commitment to Good Governance
Despite the controversy, the House reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring accountability in public institutions while respecting due process. Rotimi commended Vice-Chancellors who have complied with budget defense requirements, emphasizing that those who fail to do so will be required to meet their obligations.
He urged the media to uphold professionalism and integrity in reporting, calling for collaboration in strengthening democracy and promoting transparent governance.