House Committee Summons UNIZIK Vice Chancellor Over Project Execution Concerns
The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has summoned Professor Carol Arinze-Umobi, the acting Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, to address concerns over alleged poor project execution.
Committee Chairman, Representative Abubakar Fulata, announced the summons on Wednesday in Abuja, following the committee’s recent oversight visit to the university. Fulata emphasized that the invitation is not intended as a witch-hunt but aims to address discrepancies observed during their inspection.
The committee highlighted several issues during their visit, including misalignment between submitted documents and on-site project realities, as well as questionable financial reports. Of particular concern was a claim of spending N3 billion from N1.5 billion in internally generated revenue, which raised eyebrows among committee members.
“Spending money without appropriation by the parliament is a gross violation of the constitution,” Fulata stated. He added that presenting inaccurate figures undermines the integrity of the university’s management team.
The committee also noted instances of full payment for projects that appeared to be far from completion, which they say violates financial regulations. This includes a project reportedly less than 40% complete despite full payment.
The summons comes in response to public calls for increased legislative oversight of government agencies. The committee stressed the importance of proper fund utilization, stating that future approvals would depend on how previously allocated funds were managed.
Professor Arinze-Umobi is expected to appear before the committee at the National Assembly with relevant documents for further legislative scrutiny. The date for this appearance has not been specified in the announcement.
This development underscores the ongoing efforts to enhance accountability and efficiency in Nigeria’s higher education sector, with the committee vowing to take necessary actions to ensure progress in the nation’s universities.
