President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bold decision to authorize a 50% subsidy for power used by universities and teaching hospitals may have provided some respite to establishments struggling with crippling electricity bills.
In addition to the numerous teaching hospitals, several federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education will benefit from the subsidy scheme.
Yesterday in Kaduna, the news was announced by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
According to Dr. Alausa: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has magnanimously approved a 50% electricity subsidy to all public hospitals and universities, polytechnic and colleges of education.”
Continuing, he stated that the Ministry of Power is already figuring out how to pay for the subsidies.
Higher education establishments have been grumbling about absurd spikes in their electricity costs. The sector’s drop in subsidies was followed by an increase in power costs. Students have occasionally demonstrated against the government’s intention to cut expenses by switching up the source of electricity.
Regarding a total cost of N400 million, the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) couldn’t agree.
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria expressed outrage over a monthly bill of N300 million, which would result in an annual debt of N3.6 billion to the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KADCO). The University of Lagos was unplugged last week by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) for over N1 billion in debt. The university reported having spent N180 million. An estimated N247.7 billion will be spent on power each year for ten different varieties. The University of Nigeria Nsukka (N36.6 billion), University of Calabar (N29.5 billion), ABU (N29.2 billion), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka (N26.3 billion), University of Benin (N24.2 billion), University of Ibadan (N23.4 billion), University of Maiduguri (N22.3 billion), University of Port Harcourt (N19.6 billion), University of Lagos (N19.4 billion), and Obafemi Awolowl University (N17.1 billion) are the ten public universities with the highest budgets for this year, according to a publication by the Electricity Hub.
Speaking during the opening of the National Ear Care Centre and other important health sector projects in Kaduna, Dr. Alausa claimed that these initiatives support the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA) by offering Nigerians access to comprehensive and reasonably priced healthcare.
The newly opened facilities, which include a molecular laboratory, oxygen plant, student residence, auditorium, and others, were deemed essential by him.
He discussed the continuous attempts to raise training requirements and enhance pay for healthcare professionals in an attempt to deter them from leaving to pursue greater welfare.
Dr. Alausa went on to detail the Federal Ministry of Health’s intentions to transform patient care and data management through the implementation of a nationwide electronic medical system.
He had this to say: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to revamping all the sectors of our economy, especially in the health sector where he is giving us all we want.
“Our country is in the right direction and I want to implore the citizens to be patient with this president. He knows what he is doing.
“Every promise he made to Nigerians, he will fulfill them and he’s already fulfilling a lot of his promises.
“Our country is on the right trajectory now and I want to implore fellow citizens to be positive about our country.
“This is the only country we have and this negativity must stop,” he added.
Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe, on behalf of Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, praised the President’s leadership in the establishment of the National Ear Care Centre.
She gave the Centre the assurance that the Kaduna State Government would support it in continuing to be a premier facility for ENT treatment and research.
According to her: “Together, we can work towards ensuring that all Nigerians have access to high-quality healthcare services and that the National Ear Care Centre remains a beacon of excellence in the field of ENT.”
Dr. Mustapha Yaro, the Medical Director of the Centre, gave an overview of the recently finished initiatives, which are part of a larger initiative to improve healthcare services and infrastructure.
He however, went on to say that two of the major projects unveiled were a one-story student hostel for the School of Post-Basic ORL Nursing and an auditorium with 200 seats.
