In August 2024, the Minister of Power had announced that the government would cushion the impact of rising electricity tariffs on hospitals and universities, particularly those on Band A supply—where tariffs increased significantly following the removal of subsidies. Despite this assurance, institutions continue to accumulate massive electricity debts.

“We were assured of government support,” said an official from a federal hospital who preferred anonymity. “But till now, we pay over three times what we used to, with no relief in sight. The burden is affecting operations.”

Reports indicate that some teaching hospitals now spend as much as ₦300 million monthly on electricity, a sharp increase from previous bills of under ₦100 million. Universities and colleges are also struggling under similar conditions.

Consumer advocacy groups have accused the government of making empty political promises. “There was never any formal approval for this subsidy. It was simply a public statement with no policy backing,” said Adeola Samuel-Ilori, National Coordinator of the All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum.

The initial promise by the minister stated, “For the ones that are purely health and education-related, we are ready to subsidise them, even if they are on Band A. Discos will collect a certain amount, and the government will pay the balance.” But insiders say no implementation plan followed.

Energy experts argue the plan may have stalled due to sustainability concerns. “Subsidies are difficult to manage and are prone to abuse,” said Professor Dayo Ayoade of the University of Lagos. “If the government intends to proceed, it must prioritise transparency and sustainability. Investing in solar infrastructure might offer a more lasting solution.”

Indeed, it appears the government may have quietly pivoted to renewable energy as an alternative. According to the Ministry of Power, solar installations are now underway at several institutions, including 12MW for the University of Maiduguri and its teaching hospital, and 7MW for the University of Calabar and its medical facility.

Media aide to the power minister, Bolaji Tunji, confirmed this development. “The Rural Electrification Agency is coordinating efforts to provide off-grid power to 37 federal universities and seven affiliated teaching hospitals,” he said.

These projects include solar mini-grids, street lighting, and renewable energy training centers for students. While the initiative has begun in some locations, others are still waiting for deployment.

Still, the lack of clarity over the original subsidy promise continues to fuel frustration. “For 10 days last year, electricity was cut off at our campus hospital due to unpaid bills,” a medical student in Lagos recounted. “Patients suffered, and students protested. We are still paying exorbitantly.”

With estimates showing the government would require over ₦188 billion annually to fund the proposed 50% subsidy for hospitals and schools, analysts believe fiscal constraints and rising sector debts may have forced a quiet policy reversal.

Meanwhile, institutions remain under pressure. “We want the government to honour its word or give us a clear path forward,” said another university administrator. “It’s not just about bills—it’s about lives and learning.”

The post One Year On, Promised Power Subsidy for Hospitals, Schools Remains Unfulfilled appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, stated this in a press release on Wednesday in Abuja.

Despite an increase in power generation to 4000MW by generation companies, the ministry remains deeply concerned about the inadequate electricity distribution by the Discos. Minister Adelabu has summoned the chief executives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IEDC), as well as the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), to explain the ongoing challenges in power distribution across the country.

“The Ministry has been pressuring the Generating Companies (GENCOs) to improve their performance, leading to a recent increase in generation to over 4000MW,” said Adelabu. “However, certain distribution companies are failing to distribute the power supplied by TCN adequately, while vandalism of power infrastructure exacerbates the problem in regions such as Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.”

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Adelabu emphasized his commitment to holding all distribution companies accountable for their performance, warning that “willful non-performance will not be tolerated, and severe consequences, including license revocation, may be imposed.” He also instructed TCN to prioritize repair works on damaged transmission towers and power lines to improve supply in affected regions.

In addressing the financial challenges faced by power generation and gas supply companies, Adelabu revealed plans to settle outstanding debts, which will alleviate financial strain and contribute to improved generation levels nationwide. He urged electricity consumers to remain patient as efforts are underway to address these issues and provide better service to all Nigerians.

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Earlier, the Federal Government accused certain electricity distribution companies of intentionally not accepting power supply from TCN, contributing to the persistent power crisis. In response, Adelabu disclosed that the government is preparing to issue queries to underperforming power distribution companies.

The post Federal Government Threatens to Revoke DisCos Licenses Over Persistent Power Shortage appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Despite the statutory schedule for plenary to commence at 10 a.m., the session did not start until about 12 p.m. when power was restored and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, arrived in the chamber.

The outage caused discomfort in the chamber, particularly for senators who had arrived early for the day’s business.

Rule 8 sub-section (2) of the Senate Standing Rule (as amended) mandates that plenary should commence by 10 a.m. on every legislative day.

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Mr. Akpabio later explained that the outage made him arrive late for the plenary and apologized to the lawmakers for the inconvenience. He also noted that about nine offices within the complex were affected by the outage.

According to Chairman of the Committee on Senate Services, Sunday Karimi, the power outage was caused by a fault in the generator. However, the fault was subsequently rectified, and the session proceeded after power was restored.

The post Senate Plenary Delayed as Power Outage Hits National Assembly Complex appeared first on Housing TV Africa.