The Management of University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has settled out-of Court the contentious electricity tariff dispute that led to the disconnection of the institution last month.
As part of long term measures to mitigate impact of exorbitant electricity tariff rate by BEDC, the University Management has begun a hybrid energy system and solar installation through a private partnership deal.
Under the agreement, which preceded the restoration of power supply to the institution few days ago, the University’s monthly electricity wage Bill will gulp the sum of N100m monthly against the 24 hours daily electricity consumption that previously cost the school N300m debt.
The Medium term electricity framework will now cost the University N50m for 8 hours monthly in addition to N50m that will be remitted monthly to BEDC from the outstanding arrears of N300m Bill for stable electricity supply, which the University had gone to challenge in Court.
These resolutions were part of UNIBEN stakeholders meeting that was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Lilian Salami yesterday in Ugbowo Campus where students Unions, ASUU, SSANU, NAAT, and other groups brainstorm for hours.
Prof Salami, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Prof Raymond Ozolua, said the alternative power arrangement was meant to starve-off the students unrest that caused by power rationing, which led to the closure of the University indefinitely recently and avert a reoccurrence in future.
The VC lamented that the poor compliance of students in the payment of school charges which according to him was not commensurate with the school expenditure, hence input of stakeholders are needed to move the institution forward.
“We were in court, but settled out of court , electricity has been restored, but we will be pay hundred million every month BEDC, it is so because of the fifty million that is part of the wage we are to pay to offset the 300 million naira owned BEDC.
“As such we are of the opinion that we manage ourselves by way of group sharing on fifty Million Maira on monthly consumption bases, aggregating one Hundred Million per month, that is a huge amount for the University by the time acting Bursar review level of compliance in payment of school charges you see that we are in dare situation that why we need the inputs of all stakeholders to mitigate the situation and project a way forward”, the VC said.
On his part, Prof. Sam Ike, the chairman Task force on Electricity Management and Energy Efficiency in the University gave a breakdown of eight hours power rationing formular across Faculties and Halls of residence on Medium plan of the University.
He listed severe punishment for electricity theft, including outright rustication for students found using hot plate on Campuses.
TheNewspad reports that stakeholders also addressed the wide communication gap between Management and students who were advised to pay up their outstanding school charges to enable the institution function maximally.
Stakeholders also called on the management of the University to sustain such meeting, insisting that it will help prevent subsequent students protests and restore peace in the institution.
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