The Rivers State House of Assembly issued a warrant of arrest for the vice chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences and ordered the recovery of approximately N24 billion in scholarship funds, following the institution’s alleged mismanagement of state resources. The decision, made during the Assembly’s 53rd legislative sitting on Friday, stemmed from the vice chancellor’s failure to appear before the ad hoc committee investigating the disbursement of funds since the university’s establishment in 2017. The committee’s report, presented by chairman Dumle Maol, highlighted the university’s receipt of over N29 billion from the state government with no corresponding student enrollment, raising concerns about financial accountability.
The ad hoc committee’s findings revealed that PAMO University utilized only N5 billion of the N29 billion allocated, despite repeated invitations for the vice chancellor to explain the discrepancy. Speaker of the Assembly, Martin Chike Amaewhule, criticized the implementation of the scholarship scheme, noting contradictions in documents from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, and the Office of the Accountant-General. He emphasized the Assembly’s commitment to upholding accountability, stating, “No individual can be bigger than the House as an institution empowered by the Constitution.” The Assembly also recommended forming a committee to recover unaccounted funds and deposit them into the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account.
Amaewhule acknowledged the government’s initial intent to support education but condemned the mismanagement, calling it a “cog in the plan.” The Assembly’s actions underscore broader public-interest concerns about transparency in state-funded projects, particularly in higher education. The move aligns with ongoing efforts to address financial irregularities, as seen in other recent developments, including discussions on Nigeria’s crude oil losses and legal challenges facing public figures.
The arrest warrant and fund recovery directive reflect the Assembly’s resolve to enforce fiscal discipline, even as it navigates complex institutional dynamics. The case has drawn attention to the need for rigorous oversight of state expenditures, particularly in institutions receiving substantial public investment. With the VC’s compliance yet to be determined, the outcome could set a precedent for accountability in Nigeria’s education sector.