The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities has raised alarm about the potential collapse of 52 federal universities due to a significant increase in electricity tariffs. This increase, reportedly over 300%, has escalated the overhead costs for these institutions, making it financially unsustainable for them to operate under current conditions.
Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary to the CVCNU, highlighted that while some universities like the University of Agriculture in Makurdi have been equipped with solar power plants funded by the Federal Government, only a few out of the 62 federal universities benefit from this arrangement. The remaining 52 universities rely on electricity supplied by Distribution Companies (Discos), which has become prohibitively expensive.
The VCs have appealed to the Federal Government to intervene by either reclassifying universities under a more favorable electricity tariff band, supporting them in transitioning to alternative power sources, or allowing them to charge students economically viable rates for electricity. They emphasized that even increased government allocations would not sufficiently cover the soaring electricity costs, which are already leading to operational challenges.
Prof. Francis Egbokhare of the University of Ibadan supported the VCs’ concerns, suggesting that universities should have the flexibility to charge fees based on electricity consumption to avoid financial collapse.
The situation has already prompted protests at institutions like the University of Benin (UNIBEN), where students protested over electricity-related issues, highlighting the urgency of addressing the issue before university operations are further disrupted.
