The administration of Babcock of College, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, has cried out over the “exorbitant” month-to-month electrical energy bills charged by the Ibadan Electrical energy Distribution Firm (IBEDC).
The Vice-Chancellor/President of the college, Ademola Tayo, mentioned the college paid N300 million as a invoice in Could after the reclassification of shoppers to Band A.
Mr Tayo made this identified on Sunday morning throughout his handle on the ongoing twenty second undergraduate and thirteenth postgraduate convocation of the college, the place a complete of two,842 graduates from graduate and postgraduate faculties are being celebrated.
The VC pleaded with the federal government to “evaluation the electrical energy tariff of training establishments.”
“In Nigeria, investing in training is essential for financial progress and improvement. We’d like insurance policies that prioritise training funding and help universities in navigating these financial challenges,” he mentioned.
Similar story nationwide
Lately, the authorities on the Faculty of Drugs of the College of Lagos (CMUL) and the Lagos College Instructing Hospital (LUTH) additionally cried out over what they described as an outrageous electrical energy invoice charged by Eko Electrical energy Distribution Firm (EKEDC) for a similar month.
The healthcare establishments advised PREMIUM TIMES that they had been collectively introduced with a invoice of about N280 million for Could as an alternative of the lower than N100 million they used to pay.
As a result of disagreement over the invoice, for about ten days between June and July, electrical energy to the 2 well being establishments was disconnected, resulting in a protest by medical college students who mentioned the poor energy provide might result in their failure of their examinations.
CMUL Provost David Oke and Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LUTH Wasiu Adeyemo additionally pleaded for a evaluation, noting that the general public establishments can’t maintain the electrical energy invoice.
In the meantime, in his feedback, the Common Supervisor, Company Communications of EKEDC, Babatunde Lasaki, clarified that “Band A” isn’t enforced as perceived however decided by the feeder and site.
“No person can power a band on anyone. It’s about your space and the feeder serving your space. If the feeder serving your space is providing you with a 20-hour energy provide and above, robotically, you guys fall below Band A,” Mr Lasakin defined.
Hike in electrical energy tariff
In April, the Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee (NERC) introduced a hike in electrical energy tariffs for Band A prospects, noting that they’re provided a mean every day electrical energy provide of 20 hours, though many complain they don’t stand up to that.
NERC Vice Chairman Musiliu Oseni mentioned the Band A shoppers signify 15 per cent of the inhabitants however eat 40 per cent of the nation’s electrical energy.
He famous that the rise wouldn’t have an effect on Bands B, C, D, and E whereas noting that the variety of prospects beforehand on Band A has been lowered.
READ ALSO: Electrical energy: College denies plan to ration energy after college students’ protest
Problem posed by inflation
Talking additional on the monetary administration of the college, the Vice-Chancellor famous that with inflation charges hovering in Nigeria, the most important problem is “sustaining high quality training whereas retaining prices inexpensive for college students.”
Mr Tayo mentioned there’s a important improve in expenses- employees salaries, price of feeding college students and infrastructure upkeep, which he mentioned are all affected by inflation.
He mentioned: “Inflation diminishes the buying energy of academia, posing an more and more formidable problem in upholding requirements, particularly in gentle of the numerous surge ensuing from the reclassification of shoppers in Band A for Electrical energy tariff by the authorities and the consequential burden of assembly exorbitant month-to-month electrical energy bills.
“Regardless of this problem, we’re resolute to not decrease our requirements however moderately elevate the bar of training. That is our pledge to our stakeholders”.
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