In a recent development, the Federal Government has stepped in to alleviate the energy crisis at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, by disbursing N1 billion to settle the outstanding electricity bill.
The prolonged absence of funds had cast the institution into darkness, severely disrupting its academic activities.
Evidently, this blackout had an adverse impact on the university’s operational capacities, prompting David Adejo, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, to disclose this pivotal intervention.
Speaking before the House of Representatives Committee on Students Loans on Tuesday, August 15, Adejo was addressing the increased fees imposed by federal universities.
Expressing his concern, Adejo lamented the struggle of universities to meet their financial obligations despite the fee increments.
He emphasized that these charges were intended to cover various essential services, including the substantial electricity costs.
The Permanent Secretary highlighted the dire situation faced by Ahmadu Bello University. “For instance,” he explained, “we had to allocate approximately N1 billion to rescue Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria from its electricity bill crisis.
The institution had just resumed academic activities after enduring a prolonged period of darkness.”
He further emphasized the significance of electricity for the university’s proper functioning, indicating that planned infrastructure projects, such as constructing theaters, were impossible to execute while operating in the dark.
Contrary to certain claims, Adejo refuted the notion that the enactment of the student loan act was solely responsible for the recent surge in university charges.
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