Nigerians Demand Clarity as VCs Accuse Lawmakers of N480m Bribery Demand

 The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has urged Vice Chancellors (VCs) of Nigerian universities to present their 2025 budget proposals before the National Assembly, following allegations that lawmakers demanded N480 million in bribes for budget approval.

SHAC’s coordinator, Mary Johnson, challenged the affected VCs to provide evidence or withdraw their claims.

“If these lawmakers truly demanded money, why haven’t the VCs exposed them?” she questioned during a press briefing on Thursday.

The controversy erupted after reports surfaced that legislators allegedly asked for N50 million from each university for a smooth passage of their budget proposals. Some VCs previously claimed the demand was N5 million per institution.

Johnson questioned why universities alone were making such allegations, while other agencies like the Nigerian Customs Service and Federal Inland Revenue Service had defended their budgets without controversy.

“Why are universities the only ones alleging extortion? Do they have something to hide?” she asked, suggesting that financial mismanagement within institutions could be a factor.

Dismissing the allegations, the House of Representatives has insisted that the budget review process remains transparent.