President Bola Tinubu has instructed the immediate payment of N342m to settle the outstanding electricity bill owed to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company by the Presidential Villa.
This directive from the President comes after a thorough reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and the AEDC.
Earlier reports had indicated that the AEDC was contemplating disconnecting electricity supply to the Presidential Villa and 86 Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies due to outstanding debts totaling N47.20bn as of December 2023.
However, in response to these reports, the Presidency clarified that the outstanding bill owed by the State House is N342.35m, as indicated in a letter from the management of AEDC to the State House Permanent Secretary dated February 14, 2024.
A statement signed by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasized the commitment to settling the debt promptly. It stated, “Having reconciled the position to the satisfaction of both parties, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has given assurance that the debt will be paid to AEDC before the end of this week.”
Furthermore, the statement urged other MDAs to follow the example set by the Presidency by reconciling their accounts with AEDC and settling their outstanding electricity bills.
Among the MDAs mentioned by the AEDC as owing outstanding electricity bills are the Chief of Defence Staff – Barracks and Military Formations, the FCT Ministry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of State Petroleum, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Agriculture, among others.
The AEDC had issued a notice of disconnection to the affected MDAs, giving them a 10-day ultimatum to settle their outstanding debts or face disconnection. The company emphasized the need for these government entities to honor their obligations for services rendered, highlighting the challenges faced in previous attempts to recover the debts.
