EFCC probes varsity VCs, bursars over fraud — NUC

The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Professor Rasheed Abubakar said the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is currently investigating some Vice Chancellors and bursars of federal universities over financial irregularities and non-compliance with existing regulations.

Rasheed said this yesterday in Abuja during the opening of a workshop organized for bursars from federal universities.

He said the universities failed to comply with establishment circulars emanating from relevant Federal Government agencies.

Rasheed said some of the vice chancellors were living above board in terms of salary and allowance, saying some received above a million naira, while others received less showing there was different salary scale in the university system. According to him, many universities allowed the VCs to collect furniture allowances amounting to N480,000 and duty travel allowances of about N90,000, when top civil servants in the education ministry collect about N20,000 as duty travel allowances.

The NUC boss announced the visit of Acting Chairman of EFCC to the commission next week, with a view to setting up a date for an extended interactive meeting with university administrators.

He said the aim of the meeting was to ensure that universities were better managed financially, with greater accountability and transparency.