By Teddy Nwanunobi
Electricity distribution companies, DisCos, have cried out that no fewer than 20 of the 36 state governments in the country are indebted to them.
The DisCos said that some states owe electricity bills consumed by the state houses or their various Secretariat.
The Executive Director of Research and Advocacy, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, said that most government agencies were used to free electricity before privatisation, saying they have refused to adjust since the sector was privatised.
Oduntan, the spokesman of the DisCos, recalled that the Aso Rock Villa owed electricity bills before President Bola Tinubu ordered that it should be paid.
“But does it have to get to the President for people that work there to know that they have to pay their bill? We shouldn’t get to the point where we have to threaten a state government or a state house, a ministry, a department or an agency with disconnection.
“If you look at all our states right now, at least, 20 states are seen to be owing electricity bills in either the government house or MDAs”, Oduntan said.
He regretted that when the DisCos attempted to recover the debts from the state governments, they would have their offices sealed over claims of unpaid taxes to the states.
“When the DisCos now go to demand for money to be paid, the next day they (government agents) will go and seal off the DisCos’ offices, saying they’re owing them some taxes”, he noted.
He advised DisCos to always pay their taxes, but warned that states should not be mischievous.
“The DisCos should pay their taxes, but the states should not be mischievous and be blackmailing the DisCos every time we ask them to pay us.
“There is a state governor who is known for that kind of act. And one day, I hope to be able to come forward face-to-face with him and say, ‘Your Excellency, you have not been excellent. Paying your bill is something that you should know that you should do because when you run your generator in your government house, it costs you a lot more”, he asserted.
He refused to mention the Governor, but promised to make the list of indebted states public as soon as possible
“I don’t want to mention the name of that Governor or the state. But I will get outstanding debts from all states. I will need to get the information from the DisCos. I will not waste time on it”,he stated.
He mentioned that some states owe much while some states do not delay the payment of their electricity bills.
He appealed to the states and all Nigerians to pay their bills regularly as that is the only way the sector could be transformed.
“We have a lot of issues when it comes to paying for electricity. Things are getting better now than it was in the past. But I’m still appealing to the states and Nigerians in general to please put the nation first”, he pleaded.
