NewStats: 3,259,778 , 8,170,897 topics. Date: Monday, 26 May 2025 at 12:50 AM 532e2d

The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities has warned that about 52 Federal universities may collapse in the country soon over the recent hike in electricity tariff which has increased their overhead costs.

These VCs gave the warning after the tariff hike by the Discos increased the electricity bill of the federal universities by over 300 per cent.

Recall that the VCs had earlier last month asked the Federal Government to provide a concessionary electricity tariff rate for the universities.

They said the appeal was based on the need to alleviate the financial burden of high electricity tariffs on these institutions.


However, speaking with our correspondent on Friday, Secretary to the CVCNU, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, said if the Federal Government did not prevail on the Discos to reduce the electricity tariff, 52 federal universities might collapse soon as high overhead cost will cripple their operations.

He said the Federal Government had already funded solar power plants for about 10 out of the 62 federal universities in the country, leaving the remaining 52 institutions to rely on the Discos for electricity supply as generating power independently has proven very costly for them.

“The Federal Government has funded solar power plants in some universities like the University of Agriculture in Makurdi. [/b]They don’t depend on the Discos as they generate their own power. But there are less than 10 federal universities that have such solar power plants out of about 62 federal universities, which means 52 others do not have.


[b]“That is why we say in the interim, they should remove us from Band A and create a discretionary band for educational establishments so that we can be paying the rates we are paying before or something slightly higher. But to pay the commercial rates that everybody is paying is not sustainable. It will cripple the operations of the universities,” the VCs spokesman stated.

“Our bills have gone by 300 per cent, which translates into an increase in overhead costs for the University Vice Chancellors. For the Federal Universities, we have written to the President to let him know that with the hike, we cannot sustain the operations of the federal institutions and something must be done.

“So, it is either they (the government) move us from Band A to another band, which will give us reduced costs, us in our effort to move to our alternate power sources or allow us to charge at economic rate so that we can the cost down to the end s which are the students. The Federal Government has to sit and consider any of the options for us. But they are yet to respond to us.”

On whether increasing the allocations to the university by the Federal Government will cover up for the electricity cost, Prof Ochefu said, “Even if they increase the allocation, it will not make a big impact.

“As you have read, the situation is already affecting the students. The UNIBEN closed down today because of the students’ protest over electricity. If nothing is done urgently, university operations will grind to a halt very soon.”

Reacting to the development, a don in the University of Ibadan, Prof Francis Egbokhare, said, “I quite understand what the VC committee is talking about because the universities are not allowed to exceed a certain level of charges for fees.

“If the universities are allowed to charge on the basis of consumption, every student and lecturer will be mandated to pay for electricity used. To avoid this, the government and the universities should enter into a workable agreement.”

Source: https://punchng.com/52-federal-varsities-may-collapse-over-hike-in-electricity-tariff-VCs-tell-FG

The VC's are the once that rig in this tinubulation on Nigerians. Anything they see they should take it.

FG must urgently reverse the hike in electricity tariff to prevent collapse of vital educational institutions.

The country is close to full collaspe. Educational institutions collasping does not matter to them

The Obedients are just hating on FG for trying to save the economy and keep Nigeria moving forward, while the oppositions will do anything to see the country collapse under their watchful eyes

Shadomaan7:
The Obedients are just hating on FG for trying to save the economy and keep Nigeria moving forward, while the oppositions will do anything to see the country collapse under their watchful eyes

Isaacc729l:
FG must urgently reverse the hike in electricity tariff to prevent collapse of vital educational institutions.

Empty talk.

They should apply for prepaid meter and government should subsidize their electricity bills for a certain period of time

Isaacc729l:
FG must urgently reverse the hike in electricity tariff to prevent collapse of vital educational institutions.

Reverse means giving subsidies on top the already subsidized education which is not sustainable.

Rather than returning electricity subsidies plaqued with corruption, the FG should provide the alternative renewable energy project in the other universities or those universities creatively solve their energy problems. They are the eggheads and solving problems is their core mandate.

Rent-seeking landed us in this economic problems. People will come online to loaf around after enjoying subsidies on petrol, electricity, food , education and health. How can such a system birth innovation and deep mental thinking ? Provide security, manage population growth, take away or reduce the subsidies and give tax incentives, student loan,etc to unleash our creativity.

Funny how Nigeria’s economy has been collapsing since 2015 under Buhari and Tinubu but the same urchins are still all over the internet blaming others for their foolishness

I expect the FG to take necessary actions to prevent the collapse of federal universities and move towards a better Nigeria.

The druggie remains a disaster waiting to happen.
I don't understand how sane people expect sound ideas from this kind of coconut head.

Those who oppose the FGs decision to hike electricity tariff are just being obedient to their political agenda and are not seeing the bigger picture of sustaining our 52 federal universities.

Ur 4 yrs will be 8 yrs

No. @helinues Freestuffsng Yarimo Biodun556 and other APC ers will use their mouths to generate the needed electricity

The FG shouldn’t listen to the VCs.
Electricity bill for a university depends on usage. We should not be a socialist state where everyone expects the government to put food on their table.

princepeter566:
The VC's are the once that rig in this tinubulation on Nigerians. Anything they see they should take it.

Ohh, it's now VCs that rigged?

It's no longer Wike, Northerners and Yorubas?

The confusion is real.

There's nothing this disaster of a government will achieve, absolutely nothing.
Look at how much wike is wasting in building houses for politicians and judiciary in Abuja.

This Tinubulationn is hitting all round. Tinubub is just a disaster.

Tah.

If na to talk about no stable electricity in the country you go talk am. Now wey dem say bring money for the few hours wey una use you say universities go collapse. Make E collapse if E want collapse cos of ordinary electricity bill.

Tell them to use the budget for running those big generators in the various universities to pay their electricity bills. How difficult is that?

All these foolish old men that have sold out the future of their generations...

Then the Universities must generate theie own electricity. This should be a research question.Find a solution to power

Y'all surprised about this news.... We have been told we won't recognise the country anymore in 8yrs

princepeter566:
The VC's are the once that rig in this tinubulation on Nigerians. Anything they see they should take it.

Lamentation of an incurable headless sore losers.

Nothing was rigged ... probably in the SE.

They think of PO more than he is.

Double pain on you....sore losers.

Spits

I bet if this was in Japan, the varsities would have found a solution. What do they learn, abi they just regurgitate knowledge.

Education is about finding solutions to existing problems not cramming and calling yourselves prof.

Olaide1295:
The FG shouldn’t listen to the VCs.
Electricity bill for a university depends on usage. We should not be a socialist state where everyone expects the government to put food on their table.

They are on estimated billing.

That's why students cook with hotplates.

Where they functional before? Make them coooooollllllaaaaaappppssseee. Drug boss will rebuild it

givedemwotowoto:
Funny how Nigeria’s economy is collapsing since 2015 under Buhari and Tinubu but the same urchins are still all over the internet blaming others for their foolishness

Your comment shows you are not wise. The effect of a havoc created today will manifest in the next 10years. What we are suffering today is as a result of our inaction when things were ok. Brace up for more

Peter Obi would never have allowed Universities cry out, but we have an illiterate as pResident so education matters little
All Awolowo Labored for lost to drug dealing, cyber crime and Olosho merchants🤷🏾‍♂️