NASS members demand bribe, kickback from universities during oversight visits – IBBU Deputy VC

• He noted that politicians meddling in the management of the university system has made operations not only difficult but has corrupted the system

Federal lawmakers have been accused of demanding bribes form universities authorities during oversight duties.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai, Niger State, Prof Hassan Ibrahim levelled the accusation on Thursday.

Ibrahim revealed the ignoble acts of the national assembly members when he spoke during the 3rd Annual Lecture of the Bursary Department of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, themed, ‘The Role of Accountants in Enhancing Ethical Financial Practices in the University System’.

He noted that politicians meddling in the management of the university system has made operations not only difficult but has corrupted the system.

He stated that some politicians are using the oversight functions as an avenue to enrich themselves.

“Some politicians are using the oversight functions for their selfish gains instead of them doing the right thing, they will be asking for kickback which is unethical. We are talking about ethics but with the politicians it’s not like that.

“What we see today is, when members of the National Assembly wants to visit like FUT Minna for oversight functions, the Bursary Department has to prepare at least the sum of N10 million for them within its limited resources.

“Sometimes they will not even come but will ask the university to come and meet them in Abuja with documents thereby corrupting and bastardizing the system,” Ibrahim said.

He, however, blamed the institutions’ accountants for the unwholesome practice, saying they have failed to adhere to the five fundamental ethics of the profession in management of resources.

The professor stated that the accountants lacked of transparency and accountability in their records.

“If we (accountants) are doing the right thing at the right time, they (politicians) will never ask for anything. The Bursary Department tries to cover up some wrongs and that’s why the politicians demand for bribe.

“The best solution for this is for us to do the right thing at the right time and at the right place.

“The profession is guided by five fundamental ethics and all accountants are expected to follow and deviation from them would lead to a lot of problems,” he added.

He further noted that in order to address financial challenges by Nigerian universities, innovative financial management strategies such as diversifying revenue streams, improve financial reporting and transparency and enhance internal controls and audit functions, must be adopted.

He equally noted that they should encourage private sector participation and investment, build capacity and training for financial staff, among others.