Oredola Adeola
The Presidency has stepped up to the plate, promising to settle the Presidential Villa’s outstanding electricity bill with Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), which was initially disputed by the DisCo at N923 million, and now confirmed to be N342,352,217.46.
This was confirmed in a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy on Tuesday, amidst a shocking revelation that 86 government entities are in arrears to the tune of N47 billion.
Onanuga emphasised that President Bola Tinubu has directed immediate settlement of outstanding electricity bill due to the Abuja DisCo, as other MDAs have also been encouraged to follow the example of the Presidency by reconciling their accounts and paying their electricity bills.
President Tinubu’s directive followed the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and AEDC on Tuesday.
The S.A to the President stated that contrary to the AEDC’s initial claim of N923 Million debt in paid advertorial in newspapers, the State House outstanding bill is N342, 352, 217.46, according to a letter by the management of AEDC to the State House Permanent Secretary dated February 14, 2024.
It said, “Having reconciled the position to the satisfaction of both parties, the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has given assurance that the debt will be paid to AEDC before the end of this week.
While the management of the Presidential Villa has committed to paying its debt, the AEDC has issued a warning that other MDAs must pay their debts within 10 days from February 19, 2024, or face disconnection of services until the debts are settled.
Among the notable debtors as of December 2023, the Chief of Defence Staff-Barracks and Military formations, with approximately 184 accounts, owes a staggering N12 billion.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministry, with 423 accounts, is responsible for N7.6 billion in unpaid bills. The Ministry of Finance, with 237 accounts, owes N5.4 billion.
The Niger State Governor-Abuja Liaison Office, with 536 accounts, is responsible for N3.4 billion in unpaid bills.
The Ministry of State Petroleum, with 10 accounts, owes N2.1 billion. The Ministry of Education, with 351 accounts, owes N1.8 billion. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, with 42 accounts, owes N1.6 billion.
The Nigeria Police Force, with 1,266 accounts, owes N1.4 billion. The Presidential Villa, with 6 accounts, owes N923 million.
Others are the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, with four accounts, owes a whopping N846 million. The Kogi State Governor-Abuja Liaison Office, with 443 accounts, is responsible for N1.2 billion in unpaid bills.
The Ministry of Health, with 65 accounts, owes N1.1 billion. The Clerk of the National Assembly, with 25 different accounts, owes N1.1 billion. The Ministry of Justice/AGF, with 46 accounts, owes N815 million.
The State Security Office-SSS, with 166 accounts, owes N648 million. The Federal Inland Revenue Service-FIRS, with 18 accounts, owes N362 million.
The National Intelligence Agency-NIA, with two accounts, also owes N322 million, while the Ministry of Power, with four accounts, owes N78 million.
