Benue, Nasarawa universities bemoan outrageous electricity bills

The Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa State and the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State, have decried the increase in electricity bills.

The Vice Chancellor of FUL, Prof. Shehu Abdulrahaman, and his FUHS counterpart, state and Prof. Innocent Ujah, requested immediate intervention from the National Assembly and relevant government institutions to mitigate the impact of electricity costs.

The duo expressed their predicament during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on University Education, led by Abubakar Fulata, on Sunday.

They requested lawmakers to intervene in the increasing electricity rates imposed by the electricity distribution company.

He stated that without making effective and efficient use of limited resources, the goal of setting up the two universities would not be achieved.

Fulata advised the two universities about the dangers of using funds that had not been appropriated.

He stated that universities were not revenue-generating institutions and that it would be a violation on the part of university management to spend any internally generated revenue without appropriation.

He claims that the National Assembly has the power of appropriation.

Victor Ogene, a committee member, also stated that the university’s administration should prioritise student welfare and security.

Ogene stated that it is wrong for a university’s vice chancellor to claim ignorance about the total number of students staying in hostels and off campus.