Two Days After Exposing Presidency’s Electricity Debt, Tinubu Directs Payment Of N342m To AEDC

…Orders Other MDAs To Settle Electricity Indebtedness

The presidency has clarified the outstanding electricity bill owed by the State House to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), stating that the actual amount is N342,352,217.46, contrary to the initial claim of N923 million made by AEDC in a newspaper advertisement.

The clarification comes as President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate settlement of the outstanding bill following supposed reconciliation of accounts between the State House and AEDC management.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Tuesday that the N342 million figure was confirmed in a letter sent by AEDC’s management to the Permanent Secretary of the State House.

Onanuga said, “Having reconciled the position to the satisfaction of both parties, the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has given assurance that the debt will be paid to AEDC before the end of this week.

“Following the example of the Presidency, the Chief of Staff also urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with AEDC and pay their electricity bills.”

THE WHISTLER reported that the AEDC, in the newspaper advertorial, had threatened to disconnect electricity supply to the Presidential Villa, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Inland Revenue Service and other ministries, departments and agencies over N47bn debt owed to the distribution company.

The notice read, “The Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc is constrained to do this publication with the details of Government, Ministries, Departments and Agencies with long outstanding unpaid bills for services rendered to them through the provision of electricity supply.

“In that, our previous attempts to make them honour their obligations have not achieved the desired results.

“The relevant MDAs are hereby given notice that the AEDC shall after Wednesday, 28th February 2024, embark on the disconnection of our services to them until they discharge their obligations to us by paying their debts.”