The Academic Staff Union of Universities has voiced outrage over the increase in universities' power bills, estimated to be worth N275 billion yearly.
The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, demanded per-unit billing after the universities' electricity cost increased by 300 percent, hitting N21.480 billion monthly.
In April 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission announced a 240 percent increase in the tariff paid by Band A electricity users, from N68 per KWh to N225/KWh.
As a result, Professor Osodeke said universities classified under Band A have been paying high electricity bills.
He said universities require electricity for several vital reasons, including powering laboratories, classrooms, and libraries.
All 274 of Nigeria's universities paid N5,252,000,000 monthly or N63,024,000,000 yearly, before the tariff hike, said Professor Osodeke.
They now pay N21,480,000,000 monthly and N257,760,000,000 annually.
The ASUU leader proposed a return to a standard tariff for all electricity users, billing them only according to the power units used.
“If someone receives 14 hours of electricity, they naturally pay more because they use more, but automatically charging them more simply because they fall under Band A is illogical.
“This new system is terrible and unfair,” he said.
