University of Ilorin, Kwara State: How ₦1.27bn in IGR and PAYE Remittances Went Unaccounted For

Secrets Reporters 

The University of Ilorin, Kwara State, has come under the radar of SecretsReporters over the failure to remit about N1.28 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR) and Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) deductions during the period covered by a review of its accounts by this media house.

According to the review, the university generated N4.20 billion in IGR in 2018 but failed to provide evidence that the required 25 per cent, amounting to ₦1.05 billion, was remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). 

These contravened Treasury Circular TRY/A10&B10/2016, which requires government institutions to remit 25 per cent of their internally generated revenue to the CRF. 

The university was also flagged over N227.37 million deducted from staff salaries as PAYE tax, with no evidence that the money was remitted to the relevant tax authorities, leading to the violation of Financial Regulations 2009, paragraph 235, which provides for the proper remittance of deductions made from government employees’ salaries.

Both transactions risk the of loss of government funds, the inability to fund government programmes and the possible diversion of public funds. 

The issues identified were found under the tenure of Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem, who served as the university’s 10th Vice-Chancellor from October 16, 2017, to October 15, 2022. 

He was succeeded by Prof. Wahab Egbewole on October 15, 2022. There is no evidence in the material reviewed that Abdulkareem currently holds a federal government position.

University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) is a federal university located in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Established in 1975, the institution has grown into one of Nigeria’s major public universities, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across various disciplines. 

As a federally funded institution, it is subject to government financial regulations governing the management, collection and remittance of public revenue.