The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, has strongly criticized the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) for disconnecting the institution from power supply for four days.
Although power was restored on Saturday, ongoing discussions between EKEDC and the university management aim to establish payment modalities and prevent future occurrences.
Speaking on the issue, ASUU UNILAG branch chairman, Prof. Kayode Adebayo, condemned EKEDC’s decision to disconnect the university’s electricity as “barbaric and condemnable.”
Prof. Adebayo expressed relief that power had been restored but stressed the need for the Federal Government and electricity distribution companies to reconsider the practice of placing customers, including academic institutions, on different tariff bands.
He warned that such practices could trigger significant crises if not urgently addressed.
Prof. Adebayo criticized the government for treating public electricity as a privilege rather than a citizen’s right.
He questioned the rationale behind using electricity availability for 20 to 24 hours a day as a criterion for determining customer tariffs, calling it a “shameful” practice for Nigeria.
He further emphasized that academic institutions, which provide essential social services, require a consistent power supply to function effectively, particularly in areas such as laboratories, libraries, classrooms, and hostels.
He expressed concern that placing universities under Band A tariffs could pose a serious threat to education in Nigeria.
Reflecting on the four-day blackout, Prof. Adebayo recounted how members of the university community struggled to find places to charge their phones.
He shared his personal experience of paying up to N45,000 monthly for electricity in his campus apartment, despite using minimal appliances like an air conditioner and refrigerator.
He cautioned that if the current situation persists, it could lead to widespread protests or even an “electricity war” in Nigeria.
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