Emmanuel OchayiOver 86 government ministries, agencies, and departments (MDAs) are facing disconnection by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) due to a debt totaling N47 billion.
The AEDC issued a public notice highlighting the unpaid bills, warning of imminent disconnection if the debts are not settled within 10 days.
“The relevant MDAs are hereby given notice that the AEDC shall after the expiration of 10 days from the date of this publication, embark on disconnection of our services to them until they discharge their obligations,” stated the notice.
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Among the debtors are key government entities including the Presidential Villa, the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory, and the Ministry of Power. The Chief of Defence Staff barracks and military formations lead the pack with a debt of N12 billion, followed by the Ministry of Finance with N5.43 billion.
Other notable debtors include the Ministry of State Petroleum, Ministry of Education, Central Bank Governor, Nigeria Police Force, and various state governors’ Abuja liaison offices.
Reacting to the situation, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, expressed concern over the impact of unpaid debts on the power sector, stressing the need for a cost-reflective tariff.
However, Adelabu’s media aide clarified that the minister had promptly approved electricity bill payments since assuming office, suggesting that the inherited debt might be the cause of the issue.
“I can tell you that there is no month that the paper comes to his office that he delays. He signs it immediately. In fact, he has reasons to tell some people when in my presence that he had never delayed prompt payment of electricity bills,” stated Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu’s media aide.
Efforts to obtain comments from some MDAs, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), were ongoing at the time of filing this report.
The looming disconnection highlights the financial strain faced by both government agencies and utility providers, underscoring the need for effective debt management and financial accountability within the public sector.
