The National Union of Nigerian Students (NANS) has vowed to confront Nigerian universities over the proposed N80,000 electricity bill.
The student body has expressed strong opposition to the planned fees, which they claim are too high and unsustainable for students.
The proposed electricity tariff of N80,000 per student was disclosed by the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.
CVCNU Secretary-General, Professor Yakubu Ochefu, recently revealed that students may be required to pay as much as N80,000 each to help manage the rising cost of electricity.
Ochefu noted that each university which was previously charged N61 million per month, now pays above N200 million due to the introduction of the Band A system and subsequent increase in electricity tariffs.
The proposed fee is believed to be a response to rising electricity costs in the country, which universities say they can no longer afford without passing it on to students.
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Responding to this development, NANS National President, Lucky Emonefe, in an interview with Saturday HITopposed the idea of transferring electricity costs to students.
NANS rejected this argument, asserting that the government should be responsible for subsidizing electricity costs for educational institutions.
“That is not possible. Nigerian students cannot afford such exorbitant fees. While we understand that electricity tariffs have gone up, the burden cannot be placed on students,” Emonefe said.
He emphasized NANS’ commitment to reject any attempt to increase electricity rates for students in all institutions.
He said, “The increase in electricity tariff is one of the issues we are working with the government on. It is not the fault of the Vice Chancellor, but we agree that the government should move our institution out of Class A and put it in Class 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 the university from the high electricity tariffs. NANS has also threatened to mobilize students across the country to protest the proposed fees if the university and the government fail to address their concerns.
The development comes amid growing concerns over the rising cost of education in Nigeria, with students already burdened with tuition fees, accommodation and other expenses. The proposed electricity bill is seen as another financial burden on students, who are already struggling to make ends meet.
NANS threatens to destroy proposed N80,000 electricity bill per student first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.
