ABU groans under N86 million monthly electricity tariff

The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, yesterday staged an awareness campaign match to bring to the notice of the public the huge electricity tariff that the institution has had to bear since the last increase in tariff was effected by electricity distribution companies in the country.

The match, which took place at the Samaru campus of the university, was aimed at sensitising the workers and students to the unbearable tariff burden and to proffer practical solutions to it.

The match began at the premises of the Mamman Kotangora Square of the institution, with management and students carrying various posters such as “No to N86 million”. This, according to the university is “in support of the drive to reduce the monthly electricity bill, which is unaffordable and unsustainable due to paucity of funds.

For months after the latest increase in tariff, the university has been exploring ways to deal with the weight of unsustainable cost, including rationing electricity in the university community in order to reduce the weight of the burden, which the institution has to carry.

While addressing participants during a stakeholders’ meeting to round off the campaign match, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, noted that management was doing all it could to make electricity available in spite of the current high cost.

However, he said the time had come for all stakeholders to be brought to the table and made aware of the parts they had to play in the most pressing challenges that the university has to confront. He called on students and staff to assist in reducing the bill by ensuring they cut down on all wasteful use of power.