University of Jos Pleads for Help Over Electricity Disconnection
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, has made a passionate appeal to the House of Representatives Committee on University Education to intervene in the ongoing electricity crisis that has plunged the institution into darkness.
During a recent oversight visit to the university, Professor Ishaya lamented that the institution has been without public light for over a month due to a significant hike in electricity tariffs. He pointed out that prior to the grouping of electricity consuming customers, which placed the university in Band A, the school’s electricity bill was around N20 million to N25 million per month. However, with the classification, the bill skyrocketed to N79 million to N80 million every month.
Professor Ishaya expressed concern that the university management is finding it increasingly difficult to pay the regular bill of about N25 million per month, and the situation has worsened since the classification. He appealed to the committee to intervene and help the university be removed from Band A.
Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, Abubakar Hassan Fulata, led members of the committee to the university during the oversight visit. He reassured that the lawmakers are committed to improving the standard of education and will do everything within their power to ensure that the institution receives the necessary support.
Fulata also announced that the committee is examining how previous allocations from the Federal Government and internally generated revenue were utilized to determine whether there was compliance with the Appropriation Act.
The development has sent shockwaves through the university community, and Professor Ishaya’s plea for help is a stark reminder of the challenges that educational institutions in Nigeria are facing. The outcome of the committee’s intervention will be closely watched, and it is hoped that a solution will be found to end the university’s power woes.
