The House of Representatives says it would ensure that federal universities across Nigeria are removed from the Band A electricity tariff plan to lessen huge electricity bills.
The Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, Abubakar Fulata, made this known after the committee’s oversight of Northeast Federal Universities on Friday, July 26, 2024.
According to Fulata, some of the federal universities visited include Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi State, and Federal University, Kashare in Gombe State.
He said efforts were being made to remove universities and other tertiary institutions from the Band A group of electricity users.
Fulata said the lawmakers were determined to remove obstacles to the smooth running of the schools.
He expressed optimism that the government would listen to them and remove universities from the Band A Plan of electricity users as they did to IPPIS.
The committee chairman stated that most universities were finding it difficult to pay electricity bills due to a hike in the tariff.
Minister: Band A reduced electricity subsidy to N1trn
Fulata also tasked the management of the two universities to comply with relevant laws, particularly the Appropriation Act.
Also speaking, a member of the committee, Victor Ogene, drew the attention of the management of ATBU to some irreconcilable figures in relation to the income and expenditure of the school between 2021 and 2023.
Ogene said it was inappropriate for a government institution to spend more than its income on a revenue-generating facility like a guest house.
“Will it be appropriate to get less than N800,000 from the school guest house and spend over N5 million to maintain it? he queried.
Another member, Adamu Gamawa, said extra-budgetary spending was not allowed, noting that it is unconstitutional.
“For instance, you cannot budget N10 million and spend N15 million. That is why there is room for a supplementary budget,” Adamu said.
The ATBU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sani Kunya, commended the committee and sought the lawmakers’ support to address the challenges facing the institution.
In the same vein, the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Kashare, Prof. Usman Pate, applauded the lawmakers for visiting the institution.
Pate said apart from infrastructure challenges, most of the lecturers were reluctant to work at the university due to insecurity.
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