The Rivers State House of Assembly has taken a decisive step in recovering misused funds by issuing a warrant for the arrest of the Vice Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences. This move follows the VC's failure to appear before an ad hoc committee investigating the use of state funds since the university's establishment in 2017. The committee's report revealed a lack of transparency in the handling of scholarship funds.
The Assembly's resolution was reached during its 53rd legislative sitting, after considering the ad hoc committee's report presented by Chairman Dumle Maol. The report highlighted the VC's absence despite multiple invitations to explain the expenditure of scholarship funds. The committee also found that the university received over N29 billion from the state government without corresponding student enrollment.
Speaker of the Assembly, Martin Chike Amaewhule, expressed disappointment with the implementation of the scholarship scheme, citing discrepancies in documents from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, and the Office of the Accountant-General. He noted that out of the N29 billion released, only N5 billion was utilized by the university. Amaewhule emphasized the Assembly's commitment to doing the right thing, regardless of whose interests are affected.
The Assembly's investigation revealed that the university received approximately N29 billion in state funds, but the exact amount used for scholarships remains unclear. The committee's report suggested that the VC's absence and lack of transparency in financial dealings warranted further action. The Assembly has urged the state government to set up a committee to recover unaccounted funds from PAMO University.
The state government's scholarship scheme was intended to support students, but its implementation appears to have been flawed. The Assembly's findings indicate that the university may have misused a significant portion of the funds. The Speaker stressed that no individual can be above the law and that the Assembly will ensure accountability.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has recommended that the state government recover all unaccounted funds from PAMO University and deposit them into the state's Consolidated Revenue Account. This move aims to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. The Assembly's actions demonstrate its commitment to overseeing the proper use of state resources.
The case highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public funds in Nigeria. The Rivers State House of Assembly's decisive actions set a precedent for other institutions to follow. The recovery of misused funds and the arrest of the VC demonstrate the government's efforts to tackle corruption and ensure that public resources are used for their intended purposes.
Key points
- The Rivers State House of Assembly has ordered the arrest of PAMO University's VC and the recovery of N24 billion in unaccounted scholarship funds.
- The university received over N29 billion from the state government, but only utilized N5 billion.
- The Assembly's actions aim to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
