Reps summon UNIZIK VC over inappropriate spending

The House of Representatives has invited the acting Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in the Awka area of Anambra State, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi, over inappropriate spending on some projects in the institution.

The chairman of the committee, Abubakar Fulata, made this known via a statement on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

Fulata said the invitation followed the committee’s earlier visit to UNIZIK, adding that the invitation was not to a witch-hunt on the VC.

He said the committee would not fold their arms and allow certain things that would halt the expected progress in the nation’s universities to persist.

The lawmaker noted that the data presented in the documents submitted by the UNIZIK VC did not align with the reality on ground in terms of project execution.

Fulata wondered how the management of the university would claim to have generated N1.5 billion in a preceding year but said it spent about N3 billion from the same Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Fulata said spending money without appropriation by the parliament was a gross violation of the constitution.

UNIZIK suspends official for forging certificate

He stated that the presentation of cooked figures undermines the integrity of the entire management team of the university.

The lawmaker added that the oversight visit became necessary due to the calls and concerns raised by many Nigerians that several MDAs would do better if legislators carried out their roles as expected.

He said there would be no justification to approve funds for any government organisation if what had been earlier approved was haphazardly utilised.

Fulata said the committee observed several discrepancies and infractions in the documents presented, urging the UNIZIK VC to appear before the lawmakers in the National Assembly with relevant documents for further legislative actions.

The lawmaker noted that one of the areas of concern is 100 per cent payment for a project that was less than 40 per cent completed by the school management.

This according to the committee chairman is against financial regulations.

The Star