The House of Representatives has strongly denied allegations that lawmakers are demanding bribes from Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities in exchange for approving their 2025 budget allocations.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the House Spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., the lawmakers described the report published by Premium Times as “baseless and sensational,” accusing the media outlet of failing to uphold professional journalistic standards.
“The 10th House of Representatives is firmly committed to transparency, accountability, and the highest ethical standards. These values form the bedrock of our legislative activities,” the statement read.
Rotimi stressed that the budget process is constitutionally guided and transparent, with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) defending their allocations in public sessions. He expressed concern that some heads of federal tertiary institutions have failed to appear for their budget defense, thereby undermining the principles of accountability and oversight.
“It is concerning that some university administrators have refused to honor their constitutional obligation to appear before the relevant committees. This disregard for the legislative process not only impedes scrutiny but raises questions about their financial stewardship,” he added.
The House further alleged that some universities have pending audit queries from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, with a history of evading scrutiny. It also pointed to reports of governance failures in certain institutions, including allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and high-handedness, which legislative oversight aims to address.
While acknowledging the dedication of many university administrators, the House maintained that a few actors seeking to evade accountability were attempting to tarnish the legislative process with unverified claims.
On the Premium Times report, Rotimi criticized the publication for failing to seek the House’s response before publication. “The report lacks diligent investigative effort and instead amplifies fabricated narratives. The House was only contacted for a response two days after the story was already in the public domain,” he stated.
The House challenged anyone with credible evidence of extortion to present it to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) or the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
Emphasizing its commitment to transparency, the House assured Nigerians that budget approvals remain a rigorous process based on merit. “Institutions that adhere to laid-down procedures have had their budgets approved without issue, while those with outstanding obligations will be required to fulfill their responsibilities,” the statement concluded.
The House urged media organizations to uphold integrity and professionalism in their reporting, stressing the need for responsible journalism in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
