FUG VC Slams Premium Times for “Malicious” Journalism, Dismisses Budget Extortion Claims
The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Gusau, Prof. M.G. Abubakar, has denied allegations made by Premium Times that Nigerian lawmakers demanded N480 million from universities to approve their 2025 budgets.
The allegations were published in an article by Bakare Majeed on January 25, 2025, claiming that lawmakers pressured university heads to pay N8 million each for budget approval.
The article specifically mentioned Prof. Muazu Gusau, alleging that lawmakers targeted him for refusing their demands. It claimed that during a meeting on January 16, lawmakers threatened to “deal with Mr. Gusau for being stubborn.”
Initially, the university planned to ignore the report but later decided to respond to clarify the facts.
In a statement, Prof. M.G. Abubakar said he was represented at the budget defense by a team led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Dr. Lawal Sa’adu. He described the meeting as cordial and denied that any member of the university team was involved in what Premium Times reported.
“We urge you, Mr. Chairman and members of your Honourable Committee, to disregard the malicious and mischievous write-up from Premium Times, which has a proclivity for sensational headlines and destructive journalism,” Prof. Abubakar stated.
