By ERIC JAMES OCHIGBO

The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has summoned the Vice-Chancellor of Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUSOK), Prof. Bashir Garba, over allegation of poor 2023 budget performance.

In a statement on Friday, the House Committee Chairman on University Education, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), said that the vice-chancellor and management team should appear before the committee on Monday.

Fulata warned that the committee would not hesitate to issue an arrest warrant on the the vice-chancellor of he should fail 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 to submit relevant documents regarding implementation of the 2023, 2024 and 2025 budgets, he has refused to submit them.

The lawmaker added that when the committee eventually visited the school, the vice-chancellor was no where to be found.

He said that the few available officers were not prepared to respond to questions and had no documents regarding the running of the school in 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 provision 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 admission of students. (NAN)

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