Saturday, July 18, 2026

After pocketing $2 million bribe, Lawan blames poor standard of education for insecurity

Lawmakers recently accused Mr Lawan of pocketing $2 million in bribe money to pass the PIB.

• September 6, 2021
President of the Nigerian Senate, Ahmad Lawan
Ahmad Lawan

After pocketing $2 million bribe to reject the proposed five per cent for host communities during the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, Senate President Ahmad Lawan has blamed Nigeria’s poor standard of education for worsening insecurity in the country.

Mr Lawan made this assertion at the eighth matriculation of post-graduate students of the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILDS)/University of Benin for the 2020/2021 academic session on Monday in Abuja.

Represented by Senator Degi Biobarakuma, Mr Lawan listed insecurity, rising criminality, anti-social behaviour and unemployment as problems facing the education sector.

“You are well aware of some of the challenges and deficits in this sector, including limited funding, lack of infrastructure and teaching aids, poorly-trained personnel and low level of commitment, among several others.

“These have adversely affected the productivity and output of our schools and centres of learning at all levels, the senate president said,” he said.

Mr Lawan added that the national assembly had amended the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act to increase budgetary allocation for UBEC from two to three per cent.

Peoples Gazette had reported how aggrieved lawmakers accused Mr Lawan and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamiala of taking $2 million each in cash bribes to ram the PIB through despite protests from host communities.

“The Senate President received $2 million, and the Speaker received $2 million,” a senator told The Gazette under anonymity to avoid charges of breach of privilege. “Their greedy misconduct was recently exposed to us, and we will seriously take up the matter when we resume from the annual recess next month.”

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Jens Spahn. [PHOTO CREDIT: ZDF]

Heading 4

German lawmaker resigns after backlash for welcoming child through surrogacy

The 46-year-old politician and his party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), had backed a ban on surrogacy.

Illegal crude oil refining site

Lagos

Troops nab six suspects in Lagos oil bunkering raid, dismantle site

Mr Yahaya said items recovered during the operation included four drums, two of which contained suspected illegally refined petroleum products.

States

Gov. Yahaya swears in 23 commissioners, 13 aides

Mr Yahaya also urged the appointees to implement policies and deliver good governance during the remaining period of his tenure.

African Democratic Congress

States

Adamawa ADC governorship candidate pledges agricultural reform, improved security

He described Adamawa as an agrarian state with immense potential for economic growth and food security.

House of Representatives, Dr Adesola Adedayo

Lagos

Lagos lawmaker empowers 60 Apapa residents with fish farming equipment

Mr Adedayo said the initiative was designed to create sustainable livelihoods, enhance food security and improve residents’ economic well-being.

Health

Health experts urge pet vaccination as rabies outbreak claims two lives in FCT

The experts said rabies is entirely preventable through routine animal vaccination and prompt medical treatment after exposure.