The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities has warned that university students may be charged N80,000 or more to cover the high electricity tariffs. Universities are struggling to afford the over N200m monthly electricity bills, which have increased significantly since the introduction of the Band A system and the recent 300% tariff hike.
Many universities have cried out over the soaring electricity bills, with some receiving bills as high as N3.6bn, averaging N300m monthly. The University of Benin has been disconnected from the national grid due to its inability to pay the monthly electricity bill of N300m. Babcock University also reported paying N300m for electricity in May.
The Vice-Chancellors have written to the Federal Government, requesting a concessionary rate or a return to the previous rate, but there has been no response yet. If the government doesn’t intervene, universities may transfer the costs to students as user charges, amounting to N80,000 per student, or limit their operations to four hours a day.
The Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors, Prof Yakubu Ochefu, emphasized that the charges are unrealistic and urged the Federal Government to reconsider its decision. The matter is now in the hands of the pro-chancellors, who are expected to follow up with the request.