News
Reps Dismiss Bribery Allegations In Budget Approval Process
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- House of Reps dismisses bribery claims as false and misleading.
- Accuses Vice-Chancellors of evading budget scrutiny.
- Warns media against publishing unverified reports.
The House of Representatives has dismissed allegations that some federal lawmakers demanded bribes from Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities to approve their 2025 budget allocations, labeling the report as false and misleading.
In a statement on Wednesday, the spokesman for the House, Akin Rotimi, condemned the publication (not by The PUNCH), calling it a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of the legislature.
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“The 10th House of Representatives is firmly committed to transparency, accountability, and the highest ethical standards in all its legislative activities. These values form the bedrock of our operations.
It is, therefore, imperative to address the baseless and sensational allegations in the report, which appear to be part of a deliberate attempt to undermine the integrity of the House and erode public trust in this hallowed institution,” the statement read.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Rotimi clarified that the budget process follows a constitutionally mandated and transparent procedure. He noted that the 2025 Appropriation Bill was presented by President Bola Tinubu before a Joint Session of the National Assembly in the presence of key government officials and the public.
He further stated that some Vice-Chancellors had failed to appear for their budget defense sessions, despite being legally required to do so.
“This disregard for the legislative process not only impedes oversight and accountability but also demonstrates a lack of respect for the parliament and the Nigerian people,” he said.
Rotimi also accused some university administrators of attempting to evade scrutiny by making unfounded allegations. He disclosed that recent oversight visits by the House Committee on University Education had uncovered troubling governance practices in some institutions, with preliminary findings pointing to serious mismanagement requiring further investigation.
While commending Vice-Chancellors who have adhered to due process, the House warned that attempts to evade accountability would not go unnoticed.
The statement also criticized the news platform that published the bribery allegations, accusing it of violating journalistic ethics.
“The news platform has failed to uphold the principles of balanced journalism. The report in question lacks any diligent investigative effort and instead amplifies fabricated narratives by individuals seeking to evade accountability. Unfortunately, the medium, which has become a preferred outlet for baseless sensationalism, did not seek a reaction from the House Spokesman before publishing the story. A reaction was only requested on Monday, two days after the story had already gone public,” the statement added.
The House urged anyone with credible evidence of misconduct to present it to the appropriate authorities, including the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges or anti-corruption agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Reiterating its commitment to transparency and good governance, the House said it would not be distracted by baseless accusations.
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Reps Bribery Budget
“We call on all stakeholders, particularly the media, to approach their responsibilities with integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to nation-building. Together, we can strengthen our democracy and promote a more accountable and transparent governance system,” it concluded.
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