The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has expressed concern over the exorbitant electricity bills being charged to universities, with some institutions receiving monthly invoices ranging from ₦300 million to ₦400 million. This is despite the fact that power is being rationed to only four hours per day in some universities.
To address this issue, TETFund has initiated discussions with the Ministry of Power to explore solutions for improving power supply in tertiary institutions.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, stated that this will be a major topic of discussion at an upcoming stakeholders' meeting with heads of schools.
"As I speak, some universities are getting ₦300 million, ₦400 million bills for electricity in one month. How can they cope? Some are even rationing; they have power for only four hours a day," Echono lamented.
In a meeting with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Echono urged students to be vigilant in protecting school infrastructure during planned protests. He emphasized that hoodlums should not be allowed to infiltrate campuses and cause damage.
President Bola Tinubu has directed TETFund to prioritize harmony in the education sector and ensure a predictable academic calendar.
The president has also charged TETFund to improve the learning experience, quality of education, and student welfare on campuses.
As part of these efforts, TETFund has commenced the construction of 36 modern hostels in tertiary institutions in 2024. The president has directed TETFund to increase this number to 72 hostels by 2025.
NANS President, Lucky Emonefe stated that the student body has resolved not to proceed with nationwide protests and recognize that most student-friendly interventions were achieved through dialogue rather than demonstrations.
