Reps fault two VCs for missing visits

The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has criticized the alleged non-attendance of two vice chancellors during their oversight visits to federal universities in the South-East region. Committee Chairman Abubakar Fulata expressed dissatisfaction over the reported absence of Prof Ugochukwu Anyaehie, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Prof Simon Ortuanya, from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, during the committee's visits on Friday.

Fulata also faulted the universities for not providing their representatives with the necessary documents outlining their recent administrative and financial activities for presentation to the committee. The lack of these documents hindered the committee's ability to obtain a thorough understanding of the institutions' operations.

The committee's visit aimed to evaluate the performance and implementation of the 2025 and 2026 Appropriation Acts, with the goal of ensuring prudent and effective utilization of public funds. Fulata emphasized that the oversight exercise was a constitutional responsibility and would help lawmakers understand how funds were used before considering future budget proposals.

The committee visited several federal universities in the South-East, including FUTO, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, and the Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Enugu, to assess their infrastructure, staffing, teaching, and research facilities.