The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has lamented over the sum of N190 million monthly obligation for electricity bill payment to Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) under the federal government 50 percent subsidy on power for public Nigerian Universities and public Health institutions.
Professor Lilian Salami, Vice Chancellor of the University, commended the federal government intervention that reduced the 200 percent electricity tariff hike to 100 percent, but, insisted that except urgent step is taken to provide enablers amidst scarce resources to generate alternative source of electricity supply that will enhance Research and Development (R & D), the future of Nigerian Universities is bleak.
The Vice Chancellor who is also chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities made the submission during an interview on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) breakfast programme, ‘Good morning Nigeria’.
She suggested a revert to N69/KW billing plan — old electricity tariff package or special dedicated electricity tariff package for Universities in line with its peculiarity to redeem public Universities, including UNIBEN where students do not pay tuitions but, charges, out of the hassle.
Professor Salami stated that the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities had notified President Bola Tinubu through the federal Ministry of Education on the way forward in the electricity supply debacle Universities are grappling with.
According to her, “we are happy that something came out of that something has been done. So, we want to most sincerely thank Mr President over the 50 per cent subsidy to high electricity tariff”.
Nigerian Universities do not charge tuition. What we collect is school changes because they are basically aggregated into sub-heads. Universities are actually running a right budget. So, we don’t have much to pay.
“We welcome the 50 percent subsidy on electricity. Before the 200 per cent electricity hike, we were paying N80 million bill monthly. Thereafter, the election bill brought us to N280 million monthly.
“If we get the 50 per cent electricity subsidy, that brings the monthly bill to sum of N140 million monthly for us (UNIBEN)”, according to the University Vice Chancellor.
Continuing, Professor Salami said, “because of the backlog of electricity bill, which all of us are also dealing with, we (UNIBEN and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Management have to spread within a period of time to offset arrears. That means in one month, we (UNIBEN) are going to be paying the sum of N140 million in addition to N50 million monthly arrear, altogether, N190 million monthly electricity bill.
“Now, I don’t have that kind of resources. And I do not think any public Universities has that kind of resources. We won’t be able to sustain that and pay our bills. The second thing is, can we generate our own electricity? A lot of people are saying that we have Professors in the Universities, what are they professing?
“We have Professors in our Universities working in unconducive environments here. But when they are abroad, they have breakthroughs due to the environment and enabling environment. Do you expect a Nigerian Professor who earns N400,000 monthly at his peak to be able to carryout a research with his salary?”, she queried.
The UNIBEN VC assured that despite its challenges, the University will not compromise it’s standard of students training, assuring that, “the University can develop alternative power if we have the resources and conducive environment”.
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