NANS kicks against proposed N80,000 electricity bill, threatens showdown

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has vowed to confront Nigerian universities over a proposed N80,000 electricity bill. The student body has expressed its strong opposition to the planned fee, which it claims is exorbitant and unsustainable for students.

The proposed electricity tariff of N80,000 per student was revealed by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.

Secretary-General of the CVCNU, Professor Yakubu Ochefu, recently revealed that university students might be required to pay as much as N80,000 each to help manage the escalating electricity costs.

Ochefu noted that each universities which was previously charged N61m monthly, was now paying above N200m due to the introduction of the Band A system and the subsequent hike in electricity tariffs.

The proposed fee is believed to be a response to the escalating cost of electricity in the country, which universities claim they can no longer absorb without passing the burden onto students.

Reacting to this development, NANS National President, Lucky Emonefe, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, opposed the idea of transferring the electricity costs to students.

NANS dismissed this argument, asserting that the government should be responsible for subsidizing electricity costs for educational institutions.

“It is not possible. Nigerian students cannot pay such exorbitant fees. While we understand there has been hike in electricity tariffs, the burden cannot be put on the students,” Emonefe stated.

He emphasised that NANS’ commitment to resisting any attempt to increase electricity tariffs for students across the institutions.

He said, “The electricity tariff hike is one of the issues we are engaging the government on. It is not the fault of the Vice Chancellors, but we agree that the government should remove our institutions from Band A and place them in Band B. No Nigerian student will pay that N80,000; we will reject it.”

The student body has called on the government to intervene in the matter and exempt universities from the high electricity tariffs. NANS has also threatened to mobilize students nationwide to protest against the proposed fee if the universities and government fail to address their concerns.

This development comes amidst growing concerns over the rising cost of education in Nigeria, with students already burdened by tuition fees, accommodation, and other expenses. The proposed electricity bill is seen as yet another financial strain on students, who are already struggling to make ends meet.