The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised alarm over the dire financial state of Nigerian universities, citing the “unbearable cost of electricity” as a major threat to their survival.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed these concerns on Thursday during the opening of a two-day national conference held in Abuja.
According to Osodeke, some universities face electricity bills ranging between ₦200 million to ₦300 million per month, while the federal government only allocates ₦15 million monthly for their total running costs, including electricity and other expenses.
He criticized the stark disparity, pointing out that the government pays each senator ₦21 million monthly, far exceeding what is allocated to universities.
Osodeke highlighted the challenges faced by universities, including the need to maintain laboratories, purchase diesel, and fuel vehicles, all with limited funding, stressing that this reflects a significant misalignment in the government’s priorities.
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