Federal Government allocates N15 billion for MDAs' electricity bills debts.
Bosmannews cannot confirm whether this allocation is for the full or partial settlement of debts.
Electricity distribution companies often complain about the increasing debts owed to government agencies and departments at the state and federal levels.
Nigerian government is said to be 100 billion naira in debt
Bosman reported earlier this year that MDAs owe about N100 billion in unpaid electricity debts, according to the Executive Director of the Nigerian Electricity Distributors Association, Sunday Oduntan.
Mr. Oduntan said this in February 2024 in an interview with Arise News. He made the statement weeks after President Bola Tinubu said he had ordered the immediate settlement of the unpaid electricity bill the villa owes to the electricity distribution company. The presidency put the figure at N342.3 million after the State House leadership and the AEDC met to reconcile the accounts. Mr. Oduntan said the debts were holding back the growth of the electricity sector and insisted that government agencies should not be found wanting in this regard. "I said we all have to pay our share. On the government side, we always try to create a business-friendly environment. Always do your part by paying your bill," he said. "We have been saying this for a long time. They have not started paying since May 2023. So there is no politics or wrongdoing here. "Let's talk about facts and how we can solve the problems," he added.
MDA owes over N47 billion – AEDC
However, months after the debt cancellation announced by the president, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has revealed that the Presidential Villa, MDA and the Nigerian Army Headquarters owe the company over N47 billion in unpaid electricity bills. The company has given 86 government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) a 10-day notice to pay their debts or face dissolution.
According to the public notice issued by the AEDC in June 2024, the Nigerian Army owed N12 billion while the Nigeria Police owed N1.3 billion. He added that the presidential villa had an outstanding debt of N923 million.
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