The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has queried some federal universities in the South-West geo-political zone over alleged discrepancies in their budgetary records.

In a statement on Sunday, the committee chairman, Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), said that after an oversight visit to the schools, the committee demanded explanations for unexplained financial differences uncovered during the probe. 

He listed the universities visited as Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife; Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA); Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo; and University of Lagos (UNILAG), among others.

Mr Fulata cited alleged infractions and inconsistencies in documents relating to the income and expenditure of some of the universities.

“In some cases, the documents submitted contradict each other. You claimed to have generated nine billion Naira and spent N10 billion. Where did you get the N1 billion from?

“In another instance, you will see N12 billion generated as income and only N8 billion spent without any information regarding the whereabouts of the balance of N4 billion,” he said. 

Mr Fulata said the committee frowned at the absence of the UNILAG vice-chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola, during the oversight and requested that she appear and make submissions on the 2024 to 2026 estimates within one week.

He said the members of the university’s management present were unable to explain the N7.1 billion excess in the 2024 and 2025 budgets or provide the required information.

The committee also directed the management of OAU, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, FUTA, and Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Osun, to update their records and submit comprehensive reports on their 2024, 2025, and 2026 budget implementations.

Mr Fulata urged the vice-chancellors of the affected universities to strictly adhere to the 2026 Appropriation Act, while restating the need for transparency, accountability, and compliance with other relevant laws.

The lawmaker said that the on-the-spot assessment visit to the universities revealed enormous challenges facing the institutions.

The committee also emphasised the need to adhere to federal character principles in recruiting workers and admitting students.

(NAN)