The Management of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, has explained why its Vice-Chancellor did not personally appear before the Rivers State House of Assembly’s Ad-hoc Committee investigating the relationship between the State Government and the institution.
In a public notice signed by the University Registrar, Peter Akubuiroh, the university said it sent an official representative to the committee on September 16, 2026, in response to its invitation. According to the statement, the university’s representative was allegedly denied an opportunity to make a presentation, while a letter and supporting documents he sought to submit were also not accepted by the committee.
PAMO University said the investigation followed public assertions by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly that the institution had not been transparent in its use of funds allegedly appropriated for students on Rivers State Government scholarships. The university rejected the allegations, describing them as unfounded, and said it had requested their withdrawal and a public apology.
It further stated that the House of Assembly constituted an Ad-hoc Committee on September 3 to investigate the relationship between the Rivers State Government and PAMO University. The institution said it subsequently sought the protection of the court after concluding that the process was intended to embarrass the university rather than establish the facts.
According to the statement, while the matter was still pending, the Rivers State House of Assembly issued an arrest warrant for the Vice-Chancellor on September 25.
On the scholarship scheme, PAMO University said the Rivers State Ministry of Education has served as the supervising body since the scheme began, and therefore holds records of transactions, agreements and dealings between the State Government and the university. The institution maintained that it has fulfilled every obligation contained in its Memorandum of Understanding with the State Government.
PAMO also explained that, as a private university, neither the Rivers State Government nor the House of Assembly appropriates money directly to the institution. It said government funding for the scholarship scheme is appropriated to the relevant ministry, department or agency to meet the State’s obligations to eligible students.
The university stated that the scholarship arrangement has enabled Rivers State students to study courses including Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography, Pharmacology, Physiology, Anatomy and Biochemistry. It further claimed that about 600 Rivers State Government scholarship students are currently affected by the dispute.
PAMO said it had, for the past four months, continued to keep the students on campus despite outstanding school-fee payments, while bearing the costs of their tuition, feeding, accommodation and related expenses. The university added that students remain enrolled across the programmes and that it expects its first Doctor of Physiotherapy students to graduate in due course. It also stated that its programmes hold full accreditation from the relevant regulatory bodies.
The institution said it had avoided escalating the dispute because any disruption to the students’ medical education could have consequences for the students and their families.
PAMO University of Medical Sciences said the statistics surrounding the scholarship programme demonstrate the benefits of the collaboration between the institution and the Rivers State Government, while reiterating its position on the issues surrounding the ongoing legislative inquiry.
