The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir has disclosed that he is working with the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to ensure that electricity bills for tertiary institutions are discounted.
The Minister who was speaking during the inauguration of Governing Councils of Federal Tertiary Institutions and Board of Trustees of Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFund), noted as ‘insanity’ and ‘insensitive’ the electricity charges from Distribution Companies to tertiary institutions.
Citing as an example, the “outrageous bills” that was given to the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka by Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), the minister stated that the discounted bill was a short term measure for the power challenge in the schools.
For the long term measures, the minister stated that the government is working towards getting Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) energy across all universities in the country, adding that it will not only ensure uninterrupted power supply but will also address the climate crisis as it is eco-friendly.
Mamman called on the Board of Trustees and the governing councils of the institutions to leverage their expertise to drive significant improvements in quality and performance across educational establishments.
He urged them to use their networks to attract resources and support for the institutions, emphasizing that the government has high expectations from them in addressing the challenges facing tertiary education.
“Your appointment is a clear recognition of your track records, established integrity, and experience. These appointments reflect the diversity of our nation, professions, expertise, and experience in various areas.
“I urge you all to reciprocate the trust and confidence the government has placed in you by using your knowledge, skills, and experience to elevate the tertiary institutions to greater heights,” he said.
He encouraged management to view unions as partners, noting that the government is engaging in robust discussions with ASUU to avoid strikes in the system.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, congratulated the boards and governing councils for their nominations to serve in various capacities and expressed hope that they will work diligently to justify the confidence placed in them by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Earlier, the President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, called for the judicious use of TETFund funds to foster development.
Osodeke stated that the only thing sustaining tertiary education in Nigeria is TETFund, adding that the country’s educational system is in a serious state and requires transformation.
“My prayer is that this council will contribute to transforming our educational system. When we were at the university, we had people from other countries in the same hostel and classrooms, with lecturers from around the world. Today, the situation is so dire that 90 per cent of the lecturers in a typical university are from the same state,” he said.