The House of Representatives said it would ensure that federal universities were removed from the Band A electricity tariff plan to lessen the huge electricity bill.

Abubakar Fulata, the chairman of the House Committee on University Education, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja after the committee’s oversight of North-East federal universities.

According to him, some federal universities visited include Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and Federal University Kashare, Gombe State.

He said efforts were being made to remove universities and other tertiary institutions from the Band A group of electricity users.

Mr Fulata expressed optimism that the government would listen to them and remove universities from the Band A plan of electricity users as they did to IPPIS.

The committee said most universities were finding it challenging to pay electricity bills due to the hike in the tariff.

Mr Fulata also tasked the management of the two universities with trying as much as possible to comply with relevant laws, particularly the Appropriation Act.

Victor Ogene, a member of the committee, drew the attention of the management of ATBU to some irreconcilable figures concerning the income and expenditure of the school between 2021 and 2023.

He said it was inappropriate for a government institution to spend more than its income on a revenue-generating facility like guest houses.

“Will it be appropriate to get less than N800,000 from the school guest house and spend over N5 million to maintain it? Mr Ogene queried.

Adamu Gamawa, another member, said extra-budgetary spending was not allowed as it is unconstitutional.

“For instance, you cannot budget N10 million and spend N15 million. That is why there is room for a supplementary budget,” Mr Adamu said.

Sani Kunya, vice chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, commended the committee and sought the lawmakers’ support to address the institution’s challenges.

Similarly, the vice chancellor of Federal University, Kashare, Gombe State, Usman Pate, hailed the lawmakers for visiting the school.

Mr Pate said that besides infrastructure challenges, most lecturers were reluctant to work in the institute due to security challenges.

(NAN)