Another crisis may soon erupt in Nigeria’s public universities if their vice-chancellors approve the proposed N80,000 electricity fee per student due to the hike in power tariffs by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Under the regime introduced last April, NERC placed the universities under “Band A,” which either tripled or quadrupled their electricity bills.
Some universities could not pay the new bill and were consequently disconnected by their various distribution companies (DisCos).
In their search for a solution, the university authorities have considered passing the burden to the students.
This was disclosed recently by the secretary-general of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Prof. Yakubu Ochefu.
In an interview with a national daily, Ochefu said the universities could not afford the over N200 million they were being charged monthly for electricity.
In April 2024, NERC announced a 300 percent increase in the electricity tariff paid by Band A customers from N68/KWh to N225/KWh.
Information gathered by LEADERSHIP Weekend showed that the University of Lagos (UNILAG), which paid N80 million under the old tariff structure, now coughs out N300 million monthly as electricity bills.
For Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi, its bill rose from N30 million to N55 million per month; the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) got N150 million instead of N80 million for its May bill, while the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) bill rose from N70 million to N230 million. The situation was the same for Bayero University, Kano (BUK), whose bill rose from N30 million to N230 million.
In the light of the above, the vice-chancellors decided to introduce the N80,000 per student electricity levy.
Expectedly, this proposal has attracted the wrath of students, parents, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other stakeholders in the university community.
In separate interviews with LEADERSHIP Weekend, the stakeholders said too many charges by the universities had already overburdened the students and their sponsors.
They listed some of the fees they pay in public universities as tuition fees for those owned by state governments, registration fees, acceptance fees for new intakes, examination fees, library fees, laboratory fees, sports fees, health services fees, development levies, and accommodation or hostel fees. Others are information and communication technology (ICT) fees, student union dues, departmental and faculty fees, course registration fees, and library development fees.
Since the vice-chancellors disclosed the proposed electricity fee, opposition from students, parents, and other university community members has mounted.
They argued that the substantial hike would place an undue financial burden on students and families already grappling with economic challenges, potentially impacting students’ access to education.
In his reaction to the development, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) national president, Lucky Emonefe, said none of his members would pay the bill if the universities adopted it.
NANS said even though it had not received an official memo on the matter, it would not accept any such increase in the electricity charge.
The coordinator of NANS Zone C, Comrade Anzaku Shedrack, who spoke with our correspondent, urged the federal government to remove tertiary institutions from Band A as it was affecting their operations.
He said, “I have not received any memo to that effect, but I want to say that our stand remains that we reject any form of increments in our school fees, especially at this trying time. We understand the country is passing through a trying phase, and students are not finding it easy.
“This is no justification for any increment at this period when students are going through a lot. Parents are struggling to survive and so many other students are on the verge of dropping out of school because of the high cost of school fees in Nigeria.
“We as a student union have been involved in various discussions, especially with our institutions’ administrations and management, because we are the voice of Nigerian students and will continue to be that voice. We had discussions with them, and we told them that as university administration, they should source for other means of generating revenue in their institutions to supplement whatever the government gives them to maintain their institutions.
“When you go to some institutions, you find out that they provide essential services, whereby they can generate revenues. It is not only when they increase school fees that they can generate money, and we cautiously talked to these managements to warn them several times not to raise school fees because of cost. We have been trying our best to ensure that the government is also involved in this electricity tariff issue. As part of our obligation, we also meet different power sectors to find a solution to this.
“We have also spoken with the minister of power to see how our campuses can be removed from this Band A because we feel they are being forced to be on that band. We don’t need the 24-hour electricity; it will be too expensive for our institutions to manage. We need just a sufficient amount of electricity that our students can use to study, and we also have in our way encouraged management to see how on their own they can also install solar power plant in their institutions where they can have public-private partnership with solar companies to come and invest in their institutions.
“We have always told the government to intervene and ensure that our campuses do not remain in Band A because that is the most expensive band. They should be returned to a band where they can get the minimum amount of electricity to satisfy their needs within our campuses when needed,” he added.
Adding her voice, Martha Mlanga, a parent who resides in Lugbe, Abuja, said charging students N80,000 for electricity is a burden that parents cannot bear. She said the fee would be too high and only add to the existing financial strain on parents.
“It’s unacceptable for universities to consider imposing such a steep electricity fee on students. N80,000 is excessive and will make education even more difficult for struggling families.
“As a parent, I find the proposed fee unreasonable. It will place an unfair financial burden on us and threaten our children’s education,” she said.
Another parent, Mr Isaac Ugwu, spoke in similar vein. He said the proposed N80,000 electricity fee is beyond many families’ means, adding that the decision shows a lack of consideration for Nigeria’s economic realities.
According to him, imposing an N80,000 electricity fee on each student is a heavy-handed approach that will only deter families from supporting their children’s education.
“The proposed electricity fee is completely unjustifiable. It’s a significant increase that many parents will struggle to manage. It is far too high,” he added.
Meanwhile, the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) chapter of ASUU has warned of escalating expenses if the proposed N80,000 electricity fee is implemented.
In an interview with our correspondent, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, chairperson of the UNIABUJA chapter of the union, said the fee, if implemented, would be the beginning of potential financial burdens that could significantly impact families already facing economic challenges.
He said, “All these are what ASUU saw long ago, and each time, the parents we were even fighting for will see you as unreasonable.
“If ASUU keeps quiet, they will introduce school fees because what they are calling it now is school charges, and honestly, many Nigerians cannot afford it. So, these are the things involved in our national struggle, but unfortunately, the students and the parents we were fighting for see us differently.
“So, let’s fight the battle as parents and see how it goes, but given the current crisis in the country, I’m sure they may not bring it now.
“Now, if N80,000 is for electricity, you begin to imagine what other charges could be, and these are the students you are paying their parents a minimum wage of N70,000, and then you will pay an electricity bill of N80,000,” Ugoh added.
Other stakeholders, who sought anonymity, urged the universities to look inward by cutting excess overhead costs, curbing waste, and planning to generate their electricity because of the availability of expertise and other resources in the system.
Meanwhile, some universities are considering implementing the proposal if it is approved.
A source at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, who requested to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak officially on the issue, said it is just a proposal, but that universities need to devise other means to meet the electricity tariff.
According to him, unlike any other university, the high electricity tariff is significantly affecting their operations.
“The government needs to reclassify us back to Band B, or we may have to consider alternative solutions, which may affect students, too,” he said.
Officials of the federal government contacted on the contentious proposal declined to make comments.
The acting director of the Directorate of Public Affairs, National Universities Commission (NUC), Haruna Lawal Ajo, did not respond when asked about the agency’s position on the levy.
At the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja, no official was forthcoming on the matter.
