Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Kabiru Bala, has stated that the institution’s electricity bill for just one session surpasses its total overhead cost for 2024.
He said the over N310 million energy bill exceeds ABU’s N240 million overhead for the year. Bala urged the Federal Government to improve funding for universities, cautioning that without increased financial support, the ivory towers risk collapse.
The academic called on alumni and friends to support the ABU Endowment Foundation, noting that its Board of Trustees, chaired by former Head of Service of the Federation, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, had set a minimum amount of N25,000 for ex-students of five years and above.
Recently, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) re-echoed under-funding of public universities, cautioning that the sector was on the edge of collapse.
At a programme, organised by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, had decried neglect of the education sector, saying Nigeria ranks lowest in education budgets across the West Africa sub-region.
“We have done survey of West African countries. The least budgetary allocation to education by any country in West Africa is 15 per cent. The highest is 32 per cent. We are in a country where we give 4.5 to 7 per cent (to Education) out of which less than 70 per cent is released. But the Awolowo government was allocating over 30 per cent to education,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, President of ABU Alumni Association, Adamu Kontagora (Barden Kontagora), emphasised the need for government to make education a priority, noting the crucial role alumni associations play in supporting government’s efforts.
