Nigerian Reps Panel Tasks VCs: Ensure Budget Compliance, Financial Transparency

• The House Committee on University Education has directed federal universities to ensure strict financial transparency and compliance with the Appropriation Act.
• Committee Chairman Abubakar Fulata issued the directive after an oversight visit revealed significant financial discrepancies in some institutions.
• The University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor was tasked with submitting budget details and appearing before the committee to explain an alleged N7.1 billion excess.
• Other federal universities were also instructed to update records and provide comprehensive budget implementation reports.
• This oversight is part of the National Assembly's constitutional duty to scrutinize public funds and prevent neglect of the education sector during election periods.

The National Assembly's constitutional responsibility is to examine public expenditure, monitor the execution of approved budgets, and guarantee that public funds are utilized strictly for their appropriated purposes.

The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has issued a stern directive to vice-chancellors and management teams of federal universities across Nigeria, demanding enhanced financial transparency and strict adherence to the Appropriation Act. This mandate, delivered by Committee Chairman Abubakar Fulata in a statement released on Saturday, follows an extensive oversight visit to various universities and inter-university centers located within the South-West geopolitical zone. The committee's on-the-spot assessments revealed significant challenges confronting these institutions, prompting a warning from Fulata that any financial irregularities, lack of transparency, or non-compliance with budgetary provisions would only exacerbate their existing difficulties.

During the oversight exercise, the committee identified alleged infractions and inconsistencies within the financial records submitted by several universities. Fulata specifically highlighted concerning discrepancies between reported internally generated revenue and expenditure figures. For instance, some documents indicated N9 billion in generated revenue against N10 billion in spending, leaving an unexplained N1 billion deficit. Conversely, other records showed N12 billion in income with only N8 billion expended, without any clear information regarding the whereabouts of the remaining N4 billion.

In response to these findings, the committee issued specific directives to several institutions. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, was instructed to submit detailed budgets for 2024, 2025, and 2026, and to appear before the committee the following week. This action stemmed from Ogunsola's absence during the committee's visit and the inability of her representatives to adequately explain an alleged N7.1 billion excess identified in the university's 2024 and 2025 financial records, or to provide additional requested information. Furthermore, the managements of Obafemi Awolowo University, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Federal University of Technology, Akure, and Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, were all directed to update their financial records and provide comprehensive reports on their 2024, 2025, and 2026 budget implementations. Other institutions visited included the University of Ibadan, Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Federal University of Technology and Environmental Studies, and Nigeria French Language Village.

The core of this House Committee University Education oversight is to ensure that public institutions, particularly federal universities, are held accountable for both allocated government funds and their internally generated revenue. Chairman Abubakar Fulata emphasized that sound financial management is not merely a procedural requirement but is fundamental to enhancing the quality of university education in Nigeria. This rigorous approach to financial scrutiny underscores the National Assembly's constitutional responsibility to examine public expenditure, monitor the execution of approved budgets, and guarantee that public funds are utilized strictly for their appropriated purposes. The committee's directive specifically tasks VCs with budget compliance, reinforcing the legal framework governing public finances in Nigeria.

Beyond the immediate financial inquiries, the committee's actions carry broader implications for governance and public sector accountability. Fulata also addressed the broader political landscape, acknowledging the significant political demands placed on National Assembly members in the lead-up to the 2027 general election. However, he firmly asserted that such considerations should not, and would not, compromise their constitutional duties. He clarified that the ongoing oversight exercise was essential to prevent any sector of the economy from being neglected due to the upcoming election year. This proactive stance by the Nigerian Reps panel tasks VCs with ensuring that the education sector remains a priority, irrespective of political cycles. Furthermore, the committee urged university authorities to consistently uphold the federal character principle in both staff recruitment and student admissions, aiming to ensure fairness and equitable representation across the institutions.

Lawyers advising Nigerian federal universities or public sector entities should proactively review their clients' financial management and budget implementation processes to ensure strict compliance with the Appropriation Act and other financial regulations, given the intensified parliamentary oversight and scrutiny of financial records.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH Nigeria