By Ken Afor
Following an advertorial published in some national dailies by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) regarding a whopping N923.873 million electricity bill owed by the State House Management, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered immediate payment of the outstanding bill.
In a statement released on Tuesday by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the directive was given following the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and AEDC.
The statement added that the debt will be paid before the end of the week.
However, the statement contested the N923.873 million claim by AEDC, stating that the Villa’s actual outstanding bill stands at N342,352,217.46.
“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.
“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, Chief of Staff also urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with AEDC and pay their electricity bills,” the statement reads.
It would be recalled that AEDC, in the publication, listed 86 debtors, among which the State House was included as one of the defaulters.
