The University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) has come under scrutiny as the recently concluded Visitation Panel report reveals a series of financial irregularities, including inflated expenditures and governance lapses.
The panel, established to investigate the university’s operations, focused on areas such as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), expenditures, and disciplinary actions during the tenure of the immediate past Pro-Chancellor, Alhaji Sani Maikudi, who is also the father of the current Vice Chancellor.
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Key Findings of the Report
The Visitation Panel, chaired by Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, produced a 342-page report covering university activities from 2016 to 2020. The panel found:
- Over-Bloated Council Expenditures:
- N611,706,461 was spent on council expenses, comprising:
- Transport and Subsistence Allowance: N147,201,763
- Sitting Allowance: N370,364,981
- Other Expenses: N109,959,862
- N611,706,461 was spent on council expenses, comprising:
- The council expenditure constituted about 8% of the university’s IGR for the review period.
- Deficit Spending:
- The university declared a deficit expenditure exceeding income every year during the review period, with the highest deficit of ₦2.7 billion recorded in 2016.
- Unaccounted and Non-Serial Payments:
- Principal officers received N89.7 million in non-serial allowances, purportedly approved by the Governing Council.
- Payments for housing, furniture allowances, and official cars were highlighted as questionable.
- Discrepancy in Student Fee Reporting:
- A significant variance of ₦3,214,137,040 was noted between the projected income from student enrolment and the declared registration fees.
Recommendations
The panel urged immediate action by the Visitor (President) to address these findings:
- Demand Justifications:
- Convincing explanations for the council expenditures, particularly within the framework of the Salaries and Wages Commission Circular. Any inappropriate payments should be refunded.
- Investigations:
- The National Income Salaries and Wages Commission should evaluate the appropriateness of non-serial allowances paid to principal officers and determine if the council acted within its limits.
- Transparency Measures:
- The university should ensure the retirement of staff advances and settlement of outstanding tax liabilities.
- Discrepancies in student registration fees must be thoroughly investigated.
- Enforcement of Accountability:
- Inappropriate expenditures should be recovered, and reforms should be implemented to prevent future financial mismanagement.
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Panel Composition and Context
The Visitation Panel, inaugurated on April 13, 2021, by the former Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, comprised seven members, including academic and administrative experts.
Its terms of reference focused on leadership quality, financial management, governance, and other aspects critical to the university’s performance.
This report exposes critical lapses in financial governance at UNIABUJA, underscoring the need for urgent reforms to restore accountability and transparency within the institution.
