Reps Committee Criticizes VCs for Missing Oversight Visits

The House of Representatives Committee on University Education, led by Chairman Abubakar Fulata, expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of Vice Chancellors Prof Ugochukwu Anyaehie of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Prof Simon Ortuanya of the University of Nigeria during oversight visits to federal universities in the South-East. The visits aimed to assess the institutions' performance and the implementation of the 2025 and 2026 Appropriation Acts.

Fulata criticized the failure of both universities to provide necessary documents detailing their administrative and financial activities, which hindered the committee's ability to evaluate operations comprehensively. He emphasized that the oversight was a constitutional duty, crucial for ensuring accountability in public expenditure.

Additionally, the committee raised concerns about the poor condition of access roads to the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and urged the Imo State Government and the Federal Ministry of Works to address these issues. Vice Chancellors from various institutions appealed for government support during the visits.