Power crisis: Nigerian students decry power outages, as soaring electricity bills cripple academic activities
…ASUU calls for fair per-unit billing system to combat tariff hike
…Pro-Chancellors, VCs call for concession in electricity tariffs for universities
By Sodiq Adelakun
Nigeria’s university system is on life support, gasping for breath amidst a suffocating power crisis. Power outages have become the norm, plunging students into darkness and despair.
The few flickers of light that remain are dimmed by the crushing weight of soaring electricity bills, threatening to extinguish the very flame of learning itself.
Recall that the recent electricity tariff hike has led to a dramatic increase in power bills, straining already tight budgets and disrupting academic activities. Many institutions are rationing power, leading to frequent blackouts and hampering students’ ability to study effectively.
Students across the country are bearing the brunt of these power shortages, with many resorting to studying by torchlight or relying on expensive generators.
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has called for universities to be removed from the Band A categorisation to alleviate the financial burden.
Some institutions are exploring alternative energy solutions, such as the Independent Power Project initiated by Kwara State University to reduce reliance on the national grid.
Students from various tertiary institutions across Nigeria have expressed outrage over the recent electricity tariff hike, describing it as an “assault on their fundamental right to education.”
The students, who are already struggling with inconsistent power supply, say the hike is a “slap in the face” to their aspirations and a “mockery” of the educational system.
At Kwara State University, Malete, final year student Adam Suliah said, “We demand immediate and sustainable solutions to the power crisis, not just empty promises and exorbitant bills!”
Sikiru Odunayo, a 300-level nursing student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, added, “We pay exorbitant fees for a subpar education. We demand a drastic overhaul of the power sector and a commitment to providing uninterrupted electricity to educational institutions.”
Similarly, Taiwo Solarin, a student at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, said, “This tariff hike is a direct attack on our ability to contribute to the development of our nation. We demand a complete overhaul of the power sector and a commitment to powering educational institutions 24/7”
Students from polytechnics also expressed their frustration, with Adewale Ojo from Ilaro Polytechnic, Ogun State, saying, “We are the backbone of the nation’s technical workforce, yet we are treated like second-class citizens. We demand a robust power infrastructure that supports technical education and skills development.”
Oluwaseun Adebayo from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, added, “This tariff hike is a poor reflection of the government’s apathy towards education. We demand accountability and transparency in the power sector. We refuse to be held hostage by power companies. We want action, not empty promises!”
The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, has called for a per-unit billing system to address the issue, as the universities’ power bill rose by 300 percent, hitting N21.480b monthly. Osodeke insisted that the federal government must ensure fairness for all, citing the increased electricity tariffs, which had risen sharply.
“We are convinced the Chinese company misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it seeks to attach and did not fully disclose to the court as required by law,” Osodeke said.
He emphasised that all users should be charged based on the actual units of electricity consumed, with a uniform rate, rather than being categorised into different bands.
The Committees of Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities called for a concession in electricity tariffs for all 274 universities in Nigeria.
According to statistics provided by the Secretary-General of CVCNU, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, the average monthly electricity cost for first-generation universities increased from approximately N80 million to N300 million.
Ochefu maintained that the VCs committee had written a letter to the Federal Government in this regard, and the matter was now in the hands of the pro-chancellors, insisting that if the government did not give concession to the universities, students might have to pay an extra N80,000 for electricity.
The Coordinator of CIPR at the Lagos State University, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Thomas-Onashile, noted that the university used to pay an average of N30 million per month when the tariff was N68/kWh. With the new tariff of N209/kWh, the average bill has risen to N92 million per month.
Dr Joshua Suleiman of Babcock University reported that their monthly electricity bill ranges between N175 million and N321 million, compared to N94,011,193 and N118,477,338 last year.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced plans to subsidise electricity in universities and health institutions under Band A feeders.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this known on Saturday during a radio program in Ibadan, Oyo State. He stated that the government would not subsidise private businesses operating within these institutions.
This decision comes after universities and public hospitals complained about the significant increase in their electricity bills after the government removed subsidies for Band A customers.
Adelabu explained that the government is aware of the challenges faced by these institutions and is willing to subsidise them, but emphasised the need to differentiate between legitimate health and educational facilities and private businesses operating within them.
