By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has given a 72-hour ultimatum to the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to appear before it over outstanding debts estimated at more than N100 billion owed to the Federation Account or face sanctions for legislative contempt.
Chairman of the House Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Rep. Bamidele Salam, issued the directive during a public hearing on Monday in Abuja, after noting that the affected Discos had failed to honour several previous invitations. 
The resolution followed consideration of an interim report presented by the chairman of the subcommittee, Rep. Mark Chidi Obetta.
Naijablitznews.com recalled that on August 20, 2025, the PAC summoned 11 electricity distribution companies over a cumulative debt of N2.6 trillion owed to the Federation Account.
But the management of IBEDC, BEDC, and PHEDC have consistently failed to appear before the committee to account for their outstanding liabilities, as detailed in the Auditor-General’s reports for the 2021 and 2022 financial years.
The committee expressed displeasure over what it described as deliberate acts of legislative contempt by the three Discos and warned that stiff sanctions would be imposed should they fail to appear before the committee on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Speaking at the hearing, the Committee Chairman expressed deep concern over the long-standing nature of the debts, noting that some of the liabilities have remained unpaid for over a decade.
He emphasised the need for urgent and decisive action to recover the funds and ensure they are properly accounted for in the interest of the Nigerian government and the public.
The committee subsequently reiterated its directive, giving the management of the affected Discos until Thursday 18th December, 2025 to appear and provide explanations for the outstanding payments.
