The extortion by lawmakers is not limited to universities; polytechnics and colleges of education have also been targeted.
The National Assembly’s denial of extorting universities and other tertiary institutions to pass their 2025 budgets has been contradicted by some senators who revealed that they received $1,000 as “appreciation money” from unknown sources. This exposé comes after an investigation found that lawmakers collected ₦480 million from university heads and threatened to retaliate against vice-chancellors who refused to cooperate.
The extortion scheme isn’t limited to universities; polytechnics and colleges of education have also been targeted. Lawmakers collected N528 million from 66 polytechnics and colleges of education to pass their budgets. The money was collected in cash to avoid tracing.
Some senators have spoken out against the practice, with two senators from Sokoto and Lagos reportedly refusing to accept the “appreciation money.” However, others have complained about poorly managed committees, with chairpersons, deputies, and clerks controlling operations.
The National Assembly’s actions have sparked outrage, with many viewing the extortion scheme as a blatant abuse of power. The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has condemned the alleged bribery scheme, calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate.
