Egbewole advocates responsible electricity usage amidst rising tariff

Against the background of the recent hike in electricity tariff in the country, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has called for prudent electricity consumption in the University to mitigate the escalating costs.

Prof. Egbewole made the appeal last Tuesday (May 28, 2024) during a meeting with Students Union Executives, Students Representative Council and Faculty Presidents at the University Auditorium.

He said the meeting was imperative to keep the student representatives abreast of the development in the country, which affects the university in a great way.

 The Vice Chancellor lamented that since the introduction of the new electricity tariff system categorising consumers to Bands A to E by the Minister of Power and the Electricity Regulatory Commission, the University has been grappling with exorbitant electricity charges.

 Prof. Egbewole highlighted the financial strain imposed by the revised tariffs, revealing that prior to the adjustment, the University had been contending with monthly electricity bills ranging from N100 million to N120 million.

 Following the tariff revision, he said that the University received a bill of N230 million for electricity in March 2024, escalating to N236 million in April, with uncertainty looming over May charges. He pointed out that this translates to an annual expenditure of between N2.3 to N2.6 billion on electricity alone, which is an unsustainable burden.

Acknowledging the imperative to maintain a conducive learning environment despite financial challenges, Prof. Egbewole stressed the necessity for collective action to address the issue. “We must prioritise responsible electricity usage on campus, ensuring lights and appliances are switched off when not in use”, Prof. Egbewole said, adding, “We cannot achieve this without the active involvement of the student leadership.”

The Vice Chancellor said, “For instance, our expectation is that as soon as we leave this hall, all the lights will be turned off. Similarly, when you enter your hostel room, you switch on the light; when leaving the room, you should turn it off. Also, if you are in a room and nobody is in the toilet, the light in the toilet should be switched off. If you are not charging your phone, the socket should be turned off. Likewise, when you are not using the fan, it should be turned off. We consider these actions important”.

 He stated further that “we cannot achieve this without the leadership of the student bodies being aligned with us. You occupy the largest portion of the campus, including hostels, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and all other areas where you conduct your activities. If we can engage a hundred percent of the student populace in these efforts, we can expect a reduction of at least 30 to 40 percent in our current energy consumption”.

 As part of efforts to extend the initiative to other stakeholders, the Vice Chancellor explained that the management is also exploring the need to identify other critical stakeholders such as shop owners, private hostels, banks, and other establishments to ensure they also use electricity responsibly.

 He, however, added that additional measures would be implemented because the current reality is not sustainable. “It is our hope that by the time these measures are put in place, the student body will appreciate the challenges we are facing. It is not our intention to punish anyone, but rather to address the reality of the situation. In order for us to embark on this campaign of responsible electricity usage, we need your cooperation and support. That is why we felt it is necessary to appeal to you.

 In his remarks, the Students’ Union (SU) President, Comrade Joseph Adesukanmi Ologundudu, appreciated the Vice Chancellor and his management team for their decision to discuss the recent developments on electricity usage with student representatives.