Whereas Nigeria’s faculties are struggling, the corrupt leaders are spending tens of millions on British faculties

Corrupt Nigerian politicians, including those convicted by the courts, are paying millions of naira to British schools as their students’ school fees, a report said.

It did so while the public schools in Nigeria were deteriorating under the supervision of some of these officials.

The report named two convicted former Nigerian governors, James Ibori and Joshua Dariye, like some of the Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) who have sponsored their wards in UK schools, likely with funds raised from corruption.

The report said that private boarding schools and universities in the UK are top targets for numerous children of top Nigerian politicians, many of whom have inexplicable sources of income.

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace revealed in its report released on Thursday how some Nigerian PEPs spent millions on their children in UK schools and the payments they made.

The report entitled “West African elite spending on UK schools and universities: a closer look“Said many former and serving senior Nigerian politicians in office since 1999 have sent one or more of their children to a private boarding school or university in the UK.

For example, all Nigerian presidents and vice-presidents did so during that time, the report says. Likewise, around 40 percent of Nigeria’s current and former governors raised their children in the UK.

“A comprehensive review of current and former senators, representatives, ministers, senior military officers and other senior officials would almost certainly reveal hundreds more examples of Nigerian PEPs whose children attended UK schools,” the report said

While some would have had the legitimate assets and income to do so, it is likely that many more have used inexplicable fortune to pay some or all of their family members’ tuition fees, it added

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported How the research paper poked an accusing finger in the eyes of Nigeria’s political elites, saying they are using the UK education system as a shield against money laundering to seek better schooling for their children.

The report identified Messrs Ibori and Dariye as “high risk Nigerian elites who have made payments to British schools and universities”.

Specifically, the report states that former Plateau State Governor Joshua Dariye was and was charged with corruption in 2007 convicted in 2018 By stealing public funds, he was able to send his children to UK boarding schools and universities, where he paid an estimated fee of £ 240,000, or N 122 million.

Also ex-Delta Governor James Ibori: “Convicted in 2012 A UK fraud and money laundering court continued to send his children to UK schools and universities. He has paid an estimated amount of £ 286,000 (N 145 million) over that period. “

Aside from the two former governors, a prominent career politician from Northern Nigeria with minimal non-official income sent several children to British private schools and universities, which is roughly £ 861,000, which is the equivalent of N 441 million.

“The politician’s spouse reportedly owns a high-end UK estate.”

It also said that “a senior Nigerian lawmaker who has been a career politician for twenty-four years had several children attend independent British schools and universities where he spent an estimated fee of £ 665,000, or N339 million.” This also applies to a Nigerian politician who served in various government positions for over two decades and had several children in leading British boarding schools and universities, according to the report.

Said politician also owns high-end UK real estate after paying an estimated fee of £ 447,000 (N 227 million).

The report cited an example of an unnamed prominent career politician from southern Nigeria who sent several children to top British boarding schools and universities. He spent a fee of £ 343,000 in addition to owning a luxury property in the UK.

There is a huge gap between earning and spending

In one part, the paper showed how the payment of tuition fees in Britain exceeds the official salaries of Nigerian politicians and officials.

Even the highest government officials in Nigeria earn relatively modest salaries, according to the RMAFC (2020), the report said.

It also includes a breakdown of data showing how a Nigerian President makes N14 million a year while his truck gets “N12 million, which is £ 28,866 and £ 24,742 respectively.

“A Nigerian cabinet minister takes home about £ 16,000 or NN 7.8 million annually, consisting of a modest base salary plus several large allowances and tips.

“The country’s chief judge receives N 6.7 million; a Nigerian senator, N5 million; and N 4 million for a member of the House of Representatives, ”the report said

The report focused only on the legal revenues of political officials in Nigeria and not on the questionable ones like the N. 13.5 million. Aid Each Senator receives monthly in addition to their legitimate salaries and allowances.

At the state level, the data shows that “a governor is entitled to N 7.8 million per year, but his deputy receives N 7.4 million. A state commissioner receives N4.9 million and N2.5 million for a state legislature. “

By comparison, the average annual fee for a UK boarding school in 2020 is N17.1 million, or £ 35,000, which is about twice the annual package of salaries of a Nigerian governor or minister and about N3 million above the annual income of a president, according to the report found that he spent all of his income on a child’s tuition fees.

But the number is even three times the annual salary of a senator and four times the wage package of a member of the House of Representatives.

This argument justifies the newspaper’s claim that Nigerian politicians are using “unexplained” wealth to pay for some or all of their family members’ tuition fees in the UK.

Nigerian universities are deteriorating

While the politically exposed people in Nigeria spend billions Send their wards In UK schools, the Nigerian education sector has suffered longstanding mismanagement, underfunding, a perpetual union strike and a decline in teaching standards.

The data analyzed by this newspaper showed that Nigerian lecturers did this Strike 15 times 51 months since 1999, including the nine-month strike suspended last december. Simply put, every five years since 1999, Nigerian universities have spent a year on strike.

This has likely shown why many Nigerians criticize their political leaders for having their wards scattered about schools abroad.

In recent years, President Muhammadu Buhari has been among the leading Nigerian politicians who have celebrated graduation from foreign schools. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar; a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and deputy Ike Ekweremadu; and a serving senator and former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.

VP Osinbajo is in the UK today attending his son’s graduation. He returns to Abuja tomorrow

– Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) July 17, 2019

Please join me in congratulating my beloved daughter Sonia Chinonso Ekweremadu, BA Media and Communications, on her graduation.

Well done girl. Proud of you. I celebrate you pic.twitter.com/gTk5imIjFI

– Ike Ekweremadu (@iamekweremadu) July 18, 2019

My daughter Hasfat graduated today. I wish her the best! pic.twitter.com/xjbekyswHQ

– Atiku Abubakar (@atiku), June 3, 2016

In the meantime, calls for increased funding and reform of the Nigerian education sector continued, particularly through the ASUU college teachers’ association. In 2021, the federal government devoted only 5.67 percent of its budget to education.

The Carnegie report found that most of the public elementary and secondary schools in Nigeria are in dire condition. Public universities are also in a similarly poor state, due to funding cuts, labor disputes and violent crimes on campus.

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