The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has called on Vice Chancellors (VCs) of Nigerian universities who have yet to defend their 2025 budget estimates before the National Assembly to do so without further delay.
This appeal comes in the wake of allegations that lawmakers demanded N50 million from universities to approve their budget proposals.
SHAC’s coordinator, Mary Johnson, challenged the affected Vice Chancellors to either expose those behind the alleged extortion or refrain from making unverified claims.
“If these lawmakers truly demanded money, why haven’t the VCs exposed them?” she questioned during a press briefing on Thursday.
Johnson highlighted that other revenue-generating agencies, such as the Nigerian Customs Service and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, had successfully defended their budgets without controversy.
“Why are university administrators the only ones raising bribery allegations? Do they have something to hide from Nigerians?” she queried.
She further suggested that some university officials might be apprehensive about budget scrutiny due to unresolved issues within their institutions. These issues, she alleged, include cases of misconduct, such as sexual harassment.
“Some lecturers, who are married to the daughters of VCs and registrars, have been accused of misconduct. Have these VCs taken any action against them?” Johnson asked.
Defending the integrity of the National Assembly, Johnson called for public support for the legislature, describing it as a “pillar of democracy” that is often unfairly accused.
“While shady dealings may occur in some MDAs, lawmakers are constantly made the scapegoats. This needs to stop,” she stated.
