Concerning a projected N80,000 electricity fee, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to challenge Nigerian institutions. The proposed charge has drawn substantial resistance from the student body, which believes it to be excessive and unaffordable for them. The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities unveiled the planned N80,000 per student power rate.
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According to recent revelations from Professor Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary-General of the CVCNU, university students may have to pay as much as N80,000 per to assist cover the rising expenses of power. Ochefu pointed out that with the implementation of the Band A system and the ensuing increase in electricity rates, each university, which had previously paid a monthly fee of N61 million, was now paying more than N200 million. Universities argue they can no longer sustain the rising cost of electricity in the nation without passing the burden on to students, which is why the new fee has been put up.
In response to this development, Lucky Emonefe, National President of NANS, expressed opposition to the notion of charging students for electricity in an interview with Saturday PUNCH. NANS refuted this claim, stating that educational institutions’ electrical expenses ought to be subsidised by the government. It isn’t achievable. Such high tuition is beyond the means of Nigerian pupils. Emonefe said,
“We acknowledge that electricity rates have increased, but the onus cannot be placed on the students.” He stressed that NANS is determined to oppose any move to raise the cost of power for students at all of the universities. “One of the issues we are bringing up with the government is the increase in electricity tariffs,” he stated. We concur that the government ought to transfer our institutions from Band A to Band B; it is not the Vice Chancellors’ fault. We will reject it; no Nigerian student will pay that amount of N80,000.
The government has been urged to step in and exempt universities from the high electricity rates by the student body. In the event that the government and colleges ignore NANS’s concerns, the organisation has also threatened to organise a national student demonstration against the proposed levy. This event occurs at a time when worries about the soaring cost of education in Nigeria are becoming more pressing, as students are already burdened with living expenses, tuition, and other costs.
Students who currently struggle to make ends meet are expected to face additional financial burdens as a result of the proposed electricity bill. NANS refuted this claim, stating that educational institutions’ electrical expenses ought to be subsidised by the government. It isn’t achievable. Such high tuition is beyond the means of Nigerian pupils. Emonefe said, “We acknowledge that electricity rates have increased, but the onus cannot be placed on the students.” He stressed that NANS is determined to oppose any move to raise the cost of power for students at all of the universities. “One of the issues we are bringing up with the government is the increase in electricity tariffs,” he stated. We concur that the government ought to transfer our institutions from Band A to Band B; it is not the Vice Chancellors’ fault. We will reject it; no Nigerian student will pay that amount of N80,000.
The government has been urged to step in and exempt universities from the high electricity rates by the student body. In the event that the government and colleges ignore NANS’s concerns, the organisation has also threatened to organise a national student demonstration against the proposed levy.
This event occurs at a time when worries about the soaring cost of education in Nigeria are becoming more pressing, as students are already burdened with living expenses, tuition, and other costs. Students who currently struggle to make ends meet are expected to face additional financial burdens as a result of the proposed electricity bill.
