By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has explained why it disconnected the University of Lagos (UNILAG) from the power grid.
According to EKEDC, the university owed over N1 billion in unpaid electricity bills, despite paying N180 million recently. The company said the payment was just a small part of the total debt.
EKEDC said it had engaged with UNILAG multiple times about the debt, but the university didn’t pay. The company sent disconnection notices to the university, but they were ignored. The university’s management had met with EKEDC several times, but they couldn’t agree on a payment plan.
EKEDC also explained that UNILAG’s electricity tariff was increased because the university gets a reliable power supply for most of the day. The company said it values its relationship with UNILAG but needs to be paid for the electricity it provides.
The company is willing to work with UNILAG to find a solution, including a payment plan that suits the university’s budget. However, EKEDC needs to be paid for the electricity it provides to keep the power on.
It’s worth noting that UNILAG’s electricity bill increased significantly after it was moved to a higher tariff category without subsidies. The Federal Government promised to subsidize electricity in universities, but it hasn’t started yet.
