By Fawaz Balogun
When IndyPress independently recalculated the planned expenses of University of Ibadan Students’ Union Week budget presented by Vice President Glory Salawu to the Students’ Representative Council as N36,722,570, the sum arrived at N37,212,350 – which is N489,680 higher than the figure presented for approval.
IndyPress also found that the budget contains inconsistent prices for identical or similar items across different sections, as well as apparent duplicate entries.
The budget’s event-by-event breakdown was presented as N22,902,420. However, IndyPress’ recalculation of the quantities and unit prices listed in the document produced N23,389,350, representing a difference of N486,930.
Similarly, the Welfare Committee budget was listed as N7,238,700, while IndyPress’ recalculation produced N7,241,400, a difference of N2,700.
The other budget categories, comprising Publicity Materials, Logistics, Decoration, and Sounds and Fuel, totalled N6,581,500, with no discrepancy identified in IndyPress’ review.
Related: Days to UI SU Week, Late Budget Submission Delays Approval
It is worth noting that the three major sections of the budget which comprises the event breakdown, Welfare Committee budget and other budget categories adds up to N36,722,620, which is itself N50 higher than the N36,722,570 total stated in the budget.
Table 1: Observations from the Event Breakdown
| Items | Budgeted | IndyPress Calculation | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Fair | N2,100,700 | N2,533,300 | N432,600 |
| Day 1: Battle of Intellectuals | N2,213,100 | N2,213,100 | — |
| Day 2: Rally and Carnival | N4,851,000 | N4,738,500 | N112,500 |
| Day 3: Career and Business Summit | N792,800 | N792,800 | — |
| Days 4 & 8: Health Days | N1,152,870 | N1,272,700 | N119,830 |
| Day 5: Ojude UI | N1,524,000 | N1,524,000 | — |
| Day 6: Jumat and Movie Night | N509,750 | N509,750 | — |
| Day 6: Inter-House Sports | N4,576,400 | N4,673,400 | N97,000 |
| Day 7: Mr and Miss Unibadan | N3,607,000 | N3,607,000 | — |
| Day 8: Wedding Party and Award Night | N1,574,800 | N1,524,800 | N50,000 |
| Subtotal | N22,902,420 | N23,389,350 | N486,930 |
Table 2: Welfare Committee Budget
| Items | Budgeted | IndyPress Calculation | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Fair | N112,000 | N112,000 | — |
| Battle of Intellectuals | N878,600 | N878,600 | — |
| Rally and Carnival | N68,500 | N68,500 | — |
| Career and Business Summit | N897,000 | N897,000 | — |
| Health Days | N193,000 | N193,000 | — |
| Ojude UI | N1,000,500 | N1,000,500 | — |
| Movie Night | N176,600 | N179,300 | N2,700 |
| Mr and Miss Unibadan | N1,075,000 | N1,075,000 | — |
| Dinner and Award Night | N2,837,500 | N2,837,500 | — |
| Subtotal | N7,238,700 | N7,241,400 | N2,700 |
Inconsistent Prices Across the Budget
Beyond the arithmetic discrepancies, IndyPress observed several instances where identical or similar items were assigned different prices in different sections of the budget.
For instance, a bag of pure water was budgeted at N600 in one instance, while IndyPress found it being sold for N500 at the halls it checked.
There were also variations in the prices of tables, chairs and canopies.
A canopy was listed at N6,000 in one instance, N10,000 during the Inter-House Sports event and N5,000 in another section of the budget.
Similarly, tables and chairs were quoted at N1,500 and N2,000 respectively in one instance, while another entry listed prices of N2,000, N1,000 and N3,000 for the same or similar items during Health Day.
Petrol was also listed at N1,400 in one section and N1,800 in another.
An apparent duplicate entry was also identified for a “Full Range Dual 15” speaker on a Dual 18” subwoofer,” which appeared twice at N50,000 each.
While the two entries could represent separate requirements, the budget does not clearly distinguish between them.
A separate discrepancy concerns the proposed venue for Movie Night. Speaking at the emergency SRC siting held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, the Students’ Union Vice President stated that KAAF Auditorium, the proposed venue for the event, had been discounted for the Union to N350,000.
However, the proposed budget contains N400,000 for the venue. The N50,000 difference is not explained in the budget.
Similarly, under the Inter-House Sports budget, the SUB pitch was listed for N50,000, while Jaja Ambulance was allocated N80,000.
IndyPress’ analysis of the Day 2 Rally and Carnival budget also identified repeated entries for DJ, sound and hypeman services, with different prices attached to similar services.
The hypeman service, for instance, was listed at N30,000 in one instance and N50,000 in another within the same day’s budget.
Miscellaneous expenses also appeared in multiple sections of the budget without clear explanations of the specific expenses they were intended to cover.
These variations raise questions about whether the different figures represent separate engagements, different requirements or repeated entries.
On the Discrepancies
The discrepancies identified by IndyPress do not, on its own, establish that funds have been misappropriated or that the prices were deliberately inflated.
It however raises questions about the level of scrutiny the budget received before it was presented to the Students’ Representative Council, particularly given the Finance Committee’s responsibility to scrutinize the Students’ Union’s finances.
The inconsistencies also make clarification from the Students’ Union administration and the Finance Committee important, particularly on how the final figures were arrived at and why different prices were attached to identical or similar items across the budget.
Also Read: N36M-Plus Union Week Budget, N50M SRC-APM Legislative Summit And Why Students Must “Say No”
With students’ resources involved, the responsibility now lies with the Students’ Representative Council and the Finance Committee to establish how the figures were calculated and adequately scrutinize the budget before the Students’ Union begins Union Week on Saturday.
