The recent hike in electricity tariffs has been sharply condemned by the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), which argues that the increase is unjustifiable and unaffordable for universities.
Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary-General of the committee, expressed this concern in an interview with Nigerian Tribune, criticizing the 300 percent tariff surge imposed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in April 2024.
According to the new rates, Band A customers are charged from N68/KWh to N225/KWh. The committee pointed out that even at previous lower rates, universities faced difficulties in managing their electricity costs. With the new tariffs, institutions like the University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, and University of Ibadan have seen their monthly bills rise dramatically, with annual costs reaching up to N3.6 billion.
Public universities such as Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Benin, as well as private institutions like Babcock University, have all expressed their inability to sustain these costs. Babcock University reported a monthly bill of N300 million, a figure it cannot manage.
Ochefu highlighted the crucial need for affordable and reliable electricity for universities to operate effectively. The committee has formally requested intervention from President Bola Tinubu, seeking a concession or waiver to make the tariffs more manageable. They suggest placing universities on a special tariff band to ensure affordable and reliable electricity.
The committee awaits a response from the President and urges the new governing councils of public universities to address this issue. They warn that passing these increased costs onto students could mean an additional burden of N80,000 per year per student, a significant challenge for many from less privileged backgrounds.
