The monthly electricity bill of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has jumped from N70m to N230m, LEADERSHIP has gathered.
Consequently, the university’s management was devicing new measures to reduce its spending on electricity supply.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the management of the institution was intensifying negotiations for cheaper alternative power supply solutions.
The vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), who reportedly expressed concern over the hike in electricity tariffs imposed by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), said the alternative power solutions being sought by the institution were expected to yield positive results soon.
In an email message sent to staff and students of the university which was sighted by LEADERSHIP, Prof. Egbewole said that the institution’s monthly electricity bill has skyrocketed from N70million to N230million per month, a situation he described as ‘‘unsustainable’’.
He stressed the urgent need for a critical reassessment of the current electricity usage practices as he appealed to both staff and students to adopt more responsible electricity consumption habits and to support the administration’s efforts to implement cost-saving measures.
He has, therefore, directed that all new buildings under construction in the Faculties of Agriculture, Arts, Environmental Science, Law, and Social Sciences will include provisions for alternative power sources as part of their design.
He added that strategies were being developed to ensure that all faculties and units were equipped with reliable alternative power options.
Egbewole also stressed the importance of safeguarding the new facilities from theft and vandalism.