The Rivers State House of Assembly has constituted a seven-member Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate funds released by the state government to PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS) since its establishment in 2017. The decision follows the House's refusal to approve ₦6 billion allocated to the university in the state's 2026 budget, with part of those funds redirected toward health facility renovations across the state.
Committee Mandate and Legal Backing
The committee was constituted by the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, in line with Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Enemi Alabo George, the committee will determine how much money the Rivers State Government has provided to the university and ascertain whether the funds were properly used for the purposes for which they were provided.
The committee will also determine the number and identities of beneficiaries of the university's scholarship scheme, if any, among other issues. The inquiry comes against the backdrop of the House's decision not to approve the ₦6 billion allocated to PAMO University in the state's 2026 budget, reallocating part of the funds toward health facility renovations across the state.
University Background and Committee Members
PAMO University of Medical Sciences is a private medical university located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Established in 2017, it is the first private medical university in Nigeria and was founded by the former governor of Rivers State, Dr Sir Peter Odili.
The seven-member committee is chaired by Dumle Maol, with Silvanus Nwankwo, Lemchi Nyeche, Henrietta Loolo, Peter Abbey, Napoleon Ukalikpe, and Emilia Amadi as members. The committee is expected to submit its report to the House on or before September 30, 2026.
University Response
Meanwhile, PAMO University, through its legal counsel, rejected allegations of financial opacity, stating that the institution has never shied away from accountability and that all funds received were deployed strictly toward the sponsorship and medical education of Rivers State indigenes.
The committee's findings could influence future state funding decisions for the university, with the House already signaling a shift toward prioritizing health facility renovations over institutional allocations.
