By EricJames Ochigbo
The Special Education Committee of the House of Representatives has given the managements of University of Lagos, Army University Biu and Federal University Gusau two weeks to submit their budget performances for 2022, 2023 and 2024.
The committee which gave the notice in Abuja during a meeting with the Vice Chancellors of the universities, also requested the institutions to make their 2025 budget proposals within the same period.
Speaking at meeting, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa state) said that the special committee was constituted to interface with the institutions sequel to their failure to appear before the standing committee overnighting them.
Fulata said that President Bola Tinubu despite his tight schedules presented the 2025 budget to the joint session of National Assembly in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution.
He said that there is no reason why chief executives of agencies of government will not appear for budget defence.
According to him, the Minister of Education , the Executive Secretary of Nigerian University Commission (NUC) and all other vice chancellors of Federal Universities appeared except these three.
“It is the resolution of this committee,to give you two week to make submissions regarding the implementation of the 2022, 2023 and 2024 as well as the 2025 budget estimates.
“Though the 2025 Appropriation Bill has been passed by both chambers of National Assembly, the Accountant General of the Federation and Minister of Finance can be directed to halt implementation of the capital projects of the affected institutions if allegation of gross abuse, infractions in the implementation of previous budget is not addressed,” he said.
Responding the Vice Chancellor, Federal University Gusau, Prof Mu’azu Abubakar blamed his absence at the 2025 budget defence blamed on his ill health and insecurity in Zamfara.
He, however, said that he send representatives to the meeting and tendered an apology to the committee for his absence.
Also, the Vice Chancellor, Army University Biu, Prof. Kyari Mohammed said that his inability to appear was not done to undermine the committee.
——-