 |
| Rivers State House of Assembly |
The Rivers State House of Assembly has directed that an arrest warrant be issued for Professor Smith I. Jaja, Vice Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, over his repeated failure to appear before an ad hoc committee.
The decision was taken on Friday during the Assembly’s 53rd legislative sitting. According to a statement by Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, the committee is examining the management and disbursement of scholarship funds the Rivers State Government released to the university.
The ad hoc committee, chaired by Dumle Maol (Deputy Leader of the House), had invited the Vice Chancellor on multiple occasions to explain how the funds were spent under the state scholarship arrangement. Lawmakers stated that PAMO University received more than ₦29 billion through the scheme.
They also noted discrepancies between the amounts released and the reported number of students enrolled under the programme. After reviewing available records, the Assembly resolved that the Rivers State Government should set up a funds recovery committee. This body is to determine any unaccounted amounts, recover outstanding funds from the university if established, and return them to the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account.
RELATED
Speaker Martin Chike Amaewhule raised concerns about the implementation of the scholarship agreement. He pointed to inconsistencies in the financial records submitted by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, and the Office of the Accountant-General. Based on the Assembly’s assessment of the documents before it, only about ₦5 billion of the more than ₦29 billion released could be traced to utilisation.
These figures and findings come from the legislative committee’s report and have not been independently audited or tested in court. The investigation follows earlier legislative scrutiny of proposed funding for the university in the state budget.
PAMO University of Medical Sciences is a private institution in Port Harcourt. The Assembly has emphasised its constitutional oversight role in the matter.
Source note
Based on a statement issued by the Rivers State House of Assembly via Martins Wachukwu and reports from the 53rd legislative sitting. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers news, politics, current affairs, education, and technology.
Post a Comment