An investigation by Premium Times has uncovered an extortion scheme in which Nigerian lawmakers are allegedly demanding N8 million from federal universities to approve their 2025 budgets. The lawmakers, operating through the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund and the House Committee on University Education, are accused of using threats and intimidation to coerce 60 university vice-chancellors into compliance.
According to the report, the extortion plan involves splitting the payments equally between the Senate and House committees, amounting to N480 million in total. To evade detection, the lawmakers reportedly assigned coordinators from the North-central and North-west regions to manage the transactions using multiple accounts.
Vice-chancellors who resist the demands are allegedly threatened with budget rejection or probes. One source revealed that during a January 16 meeting, lawmakers criticized the vice-chancellors for non-compliance, resorting to threats and humiliation to enforce their demands. The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Gusau, Muazu Gusau, was reportedly singled out for “stubbornness.”
The extortion claims come as universities struggle with chronic underfunding, with most institutions relying on the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for infrastructure development. Premium Times also noted that similar schemes were uncovered in 2023, yet little action has been taken to address the issue.
This ongoing crisis highlights the challenges facing Nigeria’s education system, as universities contend with financial strain while lawmakers allegedly exploit their vulnerability for personal gain.
