A day after a notice to disconnect supply to the State House, President Bola Tinubu has directed immediate settlement of outstanding electricity bill due to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
The President’s directive follows the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and AEDC.
AEDC management had on Monday issued a 10-day notice to 86 government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to pay up the N47.1 billion electricity debt they owe or risk disconnection.
Out of the amount, the distribution company had claimed that the Presidential Villa owed an electricity bill of N923.87 million.
A statement on Tuesday by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy however disagreed with the amount owed by the State House.
“Contrary to the AEDC’s initial claim of N923million 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,” Onanuga said.
He added that after the reconciling the figures with the management of the AEDC, an assurance has been given that the outstanding bill will be paid before the end of this week.
“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,” the statement said.
MDAs have also been charged to toe the path of the Presidency by reconciling their accounts with the company and pay their electricity bills.
“Following the example of the Presidency, Chief of Staff also urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with AEDC and pay their electricity bills,” Onanuga added.
