In a troubling development, some lawmakers in Nigeria’s National Assembly are reportedly implementing an extortion scheme targeting federal universities and other tertiary institutions. According to investigations by PREMIUM TIMES, these lawmakers are demanding N8 million from each university head in exchange for approving their budget allocations for 2025.
The scheme involves senators and members of the House of Representatives, particularly through the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, as well as the House Committee on University Education. Under this arrangement, 60 federal university vice chancellors are required to pay a total of N480 million, with N4 million directed to each of the Senate and House committees.
The extortion initiative was reportedly initiated during a meeting on January 16, 2025, where lawmakers explicitly outlined their demands. Vice chancellors who resist compliance face threats of probes or non-approval of their institutions’ budgets. Sources indicate that the tone of the meeting became increasingly aggressive, with lawmakers allegedly threatening to investigate those who did not cooperate.
One anonymous vice chancellor expressed concern about the potential repercussions of non-compliance, recalling past experiences with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). This behavior has drawn consistent allegations of bribery surrounding the approval process for university budgets.
The lawmakers have established a convoluted system to conceal these transactions, assigning officials to manage the flow of money through various accounts to avoid detection. This complexity has hindered efforts to track the payments made.
In previous years, similar extortion schemes have been reported, with lawmakers demanding bribes to ensure budget approvals. The current demand of N8 million marks a significant increase from last year’s N5 million request, further straining university leaders.
Particularly targeted in this scheme appears to be Muazu Gusau, the vice chancellor of the Federal University of Gusau, who has reportedly resisted lawmakers’ demands. Lawmakers have threatened to “deal with” him for his defiance, although the specific nature of these threats remains unclear.
When approached for comment, Hassan Fulata, the chairman of the House Committee on University Education, did not respond to inquiries regarding these allegations.