Abuja: The House of Representatives has summoned the Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUSOK), Prof. Bashir Garba, to appear before its committee over alleged poor implementation of the institution’s 2023 budget, raising concerns about accountability and performance in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
In a statement on Friday, the House Committee on University Education, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), said the vice-chancellor and the management team should appear before the committee on Monday.
Fulata warned that the committee would not hesitate to issue an arrest warrant for the vice-chancellor if he failed to appear.
He explained that during an oversight visit to the university, the committee observed deliberate attempts to conceal documents regarding how the institution was being run and to frustrate lawmakers’ on-the-spot assessment.
According to him, despite repeated letters to Garba requesting the submission of relevant documents regarding the implementation of the 2023, 2024 and 2025 budgets, Garba has refused to submit them.
The lawmaker added that when the committee eventually visited the school, the vice-chancellor was nowhere to be found.
He said that the few available officers were not prepared to answer questions and had no documents regarding the school’s operations over the last three years.
“The committee is not on a witch-hunt mission, but we will not hesitate to issue a warrant of arrest, in line with the provisions of the Constitution and House Rules, directing the Inspector-General of Police to bring him if he fails to appear with relevant documents on Monday, Dec. 8.
“A proper scrutiny on the implementation of previous budgets will allow the National Assembly, saddled with the power of appropriation, to know how to respond to critical challenges of the institution,” he said.
The chairman cautioned university managements in the North-West zone against discrimination and unfair treatment in the appointment, employment, and promotion of workers, as well as in student admissions.