A recent report from the Visitation Panel on the University of Abuja has uncovered over bloated expenditure among other levels of irregularities within the institution during the tenure of the immediate past Pro-Chancellor, Alhaji Sani Maikudi, who happens to be the father of the current Vice Chancellor.
The Visitation Panel was established to investigate the university’s activities, including its Internally Generated Revenues (IGR), expenditures, and disciplinary cases against staff and students.
The panel’s terms of reference included reviewing the university’s performance in areas such as governance, academic standards, quality assurance, and financial management.
The 342-page report covering the activities of the university between 2016 and 2020, revealed that the management spent N611,706,461 on council expenses.
According to the report, the council expenses comprised of transport and subsistence allowance of N147,201,763; sitting allowance of N370,364,981, and other expenses amounting of N109,959,862.
The panel chaired by Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji with Arc. Samuel S. Ikani as Secretary, comprised seven members.
Other panel members are Prof. Ahmed Ali Yakasai, Col. Danladi Nyelong Adamu, Dr. Ibiang Oden Ewa, Barr. (Mrs.) Hauwa Abubakar, and Engr. Abubakar Abdullahi Matazu.
According to the report, the Visitation Panel was inaugurated on April 13, 2021, by the former Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, on behalf of then President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Visitor to the university, Muhammadu Buhari.
The panel had 10 Terms of Reference focusing on the level of implementation of the White Paper of the last Visitation Report; leadership quality; financial management; application of funds; adequacy of staff and staff development; relationship with statutory bodies; law establishing the university; historical evolution, net achievement, problems, and direction; general security; and discipline of students.
The panel was expected to conclude the assignment and submit its report within 60 days from the day of inauguration.
According to the report, under the period of visitation, the university received N49,077,332,021.94. Government budgetary allocation and special funds including, NEEDS Assessment, TETFund and Earned Allowance constituted 87%; internally generated revenue (IGR), 12% and investment of less than 1%, suggesting over dependence of the university on government subvention.
During the period under review, the university was governed by the 7th Council led by Dr. S.O. Ogbemudia, and the 8th Council led by Alhaji Sani Maikudi, with Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah as the Vice Chancellor and his predecessor.
The report explained that the university declared deficit expenditure over income in all years during the period under review.
“Specifically, the university incurred the highest deficit of 2.7bn in 2016,” which the panel described as preposterous.
“The panel noted that the university spent N611,706,461 (Table 4.8) on council expenses comprising of transport and subsistence allowance of N147,201,763, sitting allowance of N370,364,981, and other expenses of N94,139,717.
“Specifically, the panel noted a seemingly over bloated expenditure with respect to transport and subsistence allowance of N96,221,500 in 2017 alone; and further N354,544,836 of sitting allowance for 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020. With an IGR of N7,719,220,000 for the period, the council expenditure was about 8% of the IGR.
“The panel also noted that 89.7m was paid to the Principal Officers as Non-Serial Allowance with approval of the Governing Council.
“Clarifications sought on from the bursary on ‘other expenses’ revealed that they comprised of expenses for council committee meetings, maintenance for university guest house, lunch and refreshments for council regular meetings, printing and stationaries, accommodation for University Council members, visa and flight tickets vice-chancellor and Governing Council members’ foreign training, etc.
“Efforts by the panel to obtain clarifications form the bursary on sitting allowance of N370,364,981 and N96,221,500 transport and subsistence allowance (for 2017) proved abortive.
“The panel established that the non-serial allowance paid to the principal officers was payment in respect of Housing (N3.8m), furniture allowance (N3m/5-year tenure) and official car. The payments were approved by the council.
“From the analysis of the official student enrolment as a product of the average approved student fees for 2019/2020, a projected income of N4,869,033,958 was deduced. This figure is grossly at variance (N3,214,137,040) with the registration fees of 1,654,896,918 declared by the bursary in the Panel’s Data Gathering Template.”
The panel, however, recommended that the Visitor (President) should demand “convincing explanation regarding the seemingly over bloated council expenditure of N611,706,461, within the context of the Salaries and Wages Commission Circular Ref. No. SWC/5/04/S.310/105 of 10th June 2010. Any inappropriate payment should be refunded.
“The Visitor should direct National Income Salaries and Wages Commission to establish the appropriateness of the non-serial allowances paid to the principal officers, and whether the council acted within its rightful limits in approving them. Any inappropriate payment should be refunded.
“The university should take urgent measures to ensure retirement of advances granted to staff and settlement of tax the liability.
“The Visitor should direct investigation into the basis for the wide variation between the estimated registration fees (based on student enrolment and schedule of fees) and the actual registration fees reported by the university.”
