A major confrontation is brewing in Nigeria’s education sector as the House of Representatives Committee on University Education announced decisive action against federal universities whose vice chancellors failed to participate in crucial 2025 budget defence sessions. Committee Chairman Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata delivered this stern warning during a significant budget defence meeting for universities and inter-university centres.
The Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State has emerged as a focal point of this developing situation, having not only missed the budget defence session but also reportedly hindering legislative oversight efforts. The university’s administration stands accused of repeatedly ignoring official correspondence regarding both the 2024 budget performance and previous fiscal years, while also blocking lawmakers from conducting mandatory oversight visits.
This unprecedented stance by parliament underscores growing tensions between legislative oversight bodies and university administrators. The committee’s position reflects mounting frustration with what it perceives as a pattern of non-compliance and lack of transparency from certain educational institutions.
During the session, the committee raised several critical concerns beyond mere attendance issues. Lawmakers expressed particular unease about potential violations of federal character principles in staff recruitment and appointment of principal officers. This highlights broader concerns about equity and representation within Nigeria’s federal university system.
The committee also addressed financial management practices, particularly regarding internally generated revenue. Universities were explicitly warned that unauthorized expenditure would be treated as a serious constitutional violation, signaling increased scrutiny of financial practices within these institutions.
Another significant concern raised during the proceedings was the apparent disconnect between academic research and practical application. Despite research being a core mandate alongside teaching and learning, the committee expressed disappointment with the limited practical utilization of research outputs from these institutions.
Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), acknowledged these challenges while emphasizing the fundamental role of university education in national development. His intervention highlighted several persistent obstacles facing Nigerian universities, including chronic underfunding, limitations of the envelope budgeting system, faculty shortages, unreliable power supply, and ongoing issues with land encroachment.
The committee’s oversight visits to federal universities nationwide have revealed varying degrees of compliance and cooperation from different institutions. These visits serve as crucial mechanisms for legislators to assess firsthand the progress, opportunities, and unique challenges facing each university.
This development comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s higher education sector, which continues to grapple with numerous challenges while striving to maintain academic standards and institutional integrity. The committee’s hard stance reflects parliament’s determination to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of public educational institutions.
The implications of this funding suspension could be far-reaching, potentially affecting academic programs, research initiatives, and administrative operations at the affected institutions. This situation highlights the delicate balance between institutional autonomy and accountability to public oversight mechanisms.
Moving forward, this confrontation could potentially reshape the relationship between federal universities and legislative oversight bodies. The committee’s actions may serve as a precedent for handling similar cases of non-compliance in the future, while also potentially motivating other institutions to maintain more transparent and cooperative relationships with oversight bodies.
The situation also raises important questions about the effectiveness of current oversight mechanisms and whether alternative approaches might better serve both the universities and their public accountability obligations. As this situation continues to unfold, it may prompt broader discussions about reform in university administration and oversight procedures in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
