*says instituition owes over N700m electricity debt
By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Professor Kabir Bala has said that the university’s alumni are occupying very important positions in both public and private sectors of the economy.
He stated this at the 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) Lecture held at the Centre of Excellence Auditorium, ABU Main Campus.
Represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Professor Ahmed Ibrahim Doko, he said, “these great attributes of the university come with numerous challenges and prospects.”
Prof. Bala said, “it is quite obvious that enormous amount of resources are required for routine teaching and research, operations and maintenance of system.”
He however, said that funds by government, the proprietor, is grossly inadequate and the only other source is students charges (not fees) which is too meager to make any reasonable impact.
” With the maximum of N170 million annual budgetary allocation for overheads over the past decade, yet the university spends average of N900 million per annum to pay electricity tariff, in addition to annual consumption of over N500,000 litres of diesel without any addition to its asset base”.
The Vice Chancellor also said, despite the closure of the university due to strike action by the based unions, their monthly electricity bill for the two campuses in Zaria gulps over N40 million and this rises to minimum of N90 million when the instituition is in session.
“Our current indebtedness on electricity alone is in excess of N700 million and our continued default in meeting these obligation had serious legal and operational implications”.
In his message, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, appealed to the alumni to prevail on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its strike action.
Represented by Professor Ahmed Mohammed Modibo, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of University of Abuja, he said that their intervention will assist in bringing the end of the lingering industrial action by ASUU.
The minister urged the alumni to make contact with other members in the diaspora, to come and contribute to their alma mata as a pay back.
Earlier in his welcome address, the National President of the Association, Dr. Ibrahim Sani Khalil said that despite the numerous challenges people have been able to attend the AGM.
He said, the attendance has shown how committed members are, which is very encouraging.
The president charged alumnus to contribute positively to the development of the university in both infrastructure and research as a pay back.
He assured members that they will try as soon as possible, to reach out to all alumni in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to bring them and do the needful contribution to the university.
The lecture delivered virtually by the Executive Secretary TETFUND, Arc. Sunday Silver Togo Ochono was titled, “In the Light of Prevailing Circumstances Being Faced In The Tertiary Education Sector, Especially Universities”.
Arc. Ochono said, TETFUND will continue to explore the participation of individuals who want to establish their universities.
He said, TETFUND is utilizing the funds provided in ensuring efficient use to ensure accountability of the resources.
