By Femi Ogunshola
The House of Representatives has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving a 50 per cent electricity subsidy for universities, hospitals, and other tertiary institutions of learning.
The Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, Abubakar Fulata, made a commendation in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
He commended Tinubu for his generosity in yielding to their call and subsidising electricity tariffs for tertiary institutions.
Fulata said his committee had visited over 30 federal universities in 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory in the last few weeks.
He said that the high electricity tariff had affected almost all the universities in Nigeria.
“While almost all the universities struggle to pay the high electricity tariff, electricity distribution companies have disconnected some from public light.
“Before the grouping of electricity users that placed universities in Band ‘A’, which is the group that pays the highest electricity tariff, some universities could no longer afford the bill.
He said, “For instance, the University of Jos was paying around N20 million monthly, but after the grouping, the institution’s monthly electricity tariff jumped to over N100m.
He said that UNIJOS was one of the universities disconnected from the public eye due to the challenge of high tariffs.
“So we are grateful for this decision the President has made as it will go a long way in addressing the challenge of electricity supply in the tertiary institutions of learning in the country.
He said this was not the first time the President would listen and yield to the Rep’s call for improvement in the educational sector.
According to him, we have talked about the issue of IPPIS, which has placed a heavy burden on university management, like seeking permission from about seven MDAs before even a cleaner can be recruited.
He added that the President listened and approved the removal of tertiary institutions from IPPIS. The president also yielded its call to reconstitute the councils for tertiary institutions.
Fulata expressed confidence that the lawmakers would continue to partner with the executive branch regardless of political affiliation, ethnic, and religious differences.
He said this also includes relevant stakeholders to improve the country’s education standard.
It will be recalled that the Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced a 50 per cent electricity subsidy for tertiary institutions and hospitals in Kaduna.
Alausa said the Ministry of Power had already worked out the subsidy payment modalities.
