- The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) opposes the proposed N80,000 electricity fee for students, calling it unaffordable and unfair.
- Universities report a dramatic increase in electricity costs. Due to a recent 300% tariff hike, they now pay over N200 million monthly, up from N61 million.
- Both NANS and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) demand increased government funding and reclassification of universities to lower tariff bands to avoid burdening students.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) opposes the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities’ (CVCNU) proposal to charge each student N80,000 for electricity.
This proposed hike comes as universities struggle with rising electricity costs, which they say are unsustainable without passing the burden onto students. CVCNU Secretary-General Professor Yakubu Ochefu recently stated that students might need to pay up to N80,000 each to manage these costs.
Previously, universities paid N61 million monthly for electricity. Due to the Band A system and a recent tariff hike, they spent over N200 million. In April 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) raised the tariff for Band A customers from N68/KWh to N225/KWh, a 300 per cent increase. Band A customers receive at least 20 hours of electricity daily.
Reacting to this, NANS National President Lucky Emonefe said that transferring electricity costs to students is unacceptable. “It is not possible. Nigerian students cannot pay such exorbitant fees. While we understand there has been a hike in electricity tariffs, the burden cannot be put on the students,” Emonefe stated. He pledged NANS’ commitment to resisting any electricity tariff increase for students.
Emonefe called for the government to remove universities from Band A and place them in Band B. “No Nigerian student will pay that N80,000; we will reject it,” he asserted.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) also expressed concern, advocating for increased government funding for universities. ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, argued that better funding would allow universities to operate independently and possibly generate their power.
“There are several issues with the system. The funding is poor; given the current environment, students cannot handle such a bill. There is no justification for this electricity hike in universities,” Osodeke said. He urged for equal electricity rates regardless of band and suggested that well-funded universities could generate their electricity.
On the other hand, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors advised universities to adapt to the current reality of increased electricity costs. Sunday Oduntan, Executive Director of Research & Advocacy at Discos, said reversing the tariff increase was unrealistic.
“That is the reality of our time. If the businesses apply it, it is fixed by the regulator and not by the discos using realistic economic realities. If they say we should not consider the cost of production, that means all the businesses will fold up, and there will not be light,” Oduntan stated.