News
Aso Villa, NASS, DSS, Police, EFCC Risk Disconnection Over Debt Of N47.1Bn Owed To AEDC
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa, Abuja
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) has said that the Clerk to the National Assembly, Ojo Olatunde Amos, the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), also known as State Security Services (SSS), owe a total of N3,416,204,222 in electricity bill.
The AEDC said this on Monday in a disconnection notice where it threatened to disconnect the electricity supply of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, along with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over a total electricity debt of N47.1 billion.
According to the electricity distribution company, the Clerk to the National Assembly owes the sum of N1,093,056,370, while the Nigeria Police Force owes the sum of N1,383,222,250.
It further stated that the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission owes N291,297,171 while Nigeria’s secret police, DSS office in Abuja owes the sum of N648,628,431.
The company said the Presidential Villa owed the sum of N923,873,150 as an outstanding debt for electricity charges.
The electricity distribution company in the document stated that it was constrained to publish the details of the debts which had lasted for long for the services rendered.
The AEDC stressed that the publication of the unpaid electricity bill became imperative because its “previous attempts to make them honour their obligations have not achieved the desired result”.
In a disconnection notice on Monday, the AEDC listed the outstanding electricity debts of government ministries, departments and agencies as of December 2023.
It gave the MDAs 10 days to comply and pay their debts or risk disconnection and subsequent blackout from February 28, 2024.
According to the electricity distribution company, the Clerk to the National Assembly owes the sum of N1,093,056,370, while the Nigeria Police Force owes the sum of N1,383,222,250.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said that the Nigerian government paid the sum of N2.8 trillion to subsidise electricity consumed in the country from 2015 to 2022 under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
It was been reported that President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government claimed it cannot continue to subsidise electricity because of huge debts already incurred.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who made this known during a press conference in Abuja said that the country must begin to move towards a cost-effective tariff model, as the country owes up to N1.3 trillion to generating businesses (GenCos).
The minister further stated that just N450 billion was funded for subsidies this year, even though the ministry required more than N2 trillion in subsidies.
He added that state governments would now be able to generate power independently to supply power to their respective states.
Adelabu stated that the grid collapsed six times between December 2023 and last week due to a lack of gas, ageing machines in the grid value chain, insufficient capacity to evacuate generated power, and the destruction of power stations in some parts of the country’s North-East geopolitical zone.
According to the power minister, the Transmission Commission of Nigeria (TCN) has over 100 abandoned projects due to discrepancies in contract figures caused by FX volatility, adding that the business will not grant new contracts until all such projects are completed.
Niger State’s Executive Council has proposed a massive N1.2 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year.
This proposal was unveiled by Commissioner of Budget and Planning Mustapha Ndajiwo during a Government House Council meeting, as announced by the Governor’s Special Adviser Abdullberqy Usman Ebbo on social media X.
Ebbo explained that the commissioner told the council that the estimate is made up of N188.42 billion or 15.68 per cent recurrent and 1.01 trillion or 84.34 per cent capital expenditure respectively.
The commissioner stated that when compared with the approved budget of 2024, the estimate represents an increase of 32.94 per cent.
” The Commissioner in his analysis also stated that even though the 2024 approved budget was supplemented with the sum of N191.98 billion, the breakdown of the draft 2025 proposals revealed an increase of 1.18 per cent and 32.98 per cent in recurrent and capital expenditure respectively, ” Ebbo stated.
He noted that Governor Mohammed Umar Bago in his remarks, explained that the size of the estimate was informed by the gap in infrastructure and key development areas and the inflationary trend of the country.
After the presentation, the council deliberated on it and approved the estimates.
It then directed the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mustapha Ndajiwo to prepare for submission to the Niger State House of Assembly for approval.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jami’u Abiola, son of late Moshood Abiola, as senior special assistant to the president on linguistics and foreign matters.
Segun Imohiosen, director of information, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in a statement, said the appointment takes effect from November 14, 2024.
“This is in line with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended”
Until his appointment, Jami’u has served as the special assistant to the president on special duties in the Office of the Vice President.
The statement said President Tinubu tasked the appointee to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new assignment.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has halted the free bus service system in the state.
The governor had earlier on Wednesday approved the free bus services for residents of the state through the Edo City Transport Service.
In a press statement released by Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the initiative was described as part of the administration’s effort to entrench its policy direction.
The free bus service, according to the governor, was to cover the Benin metropolis and the three senatorial districts of the state (intra- and intercity routes) and was intended as a commitment to enhancing the welfare of Edo residents.
However, in a subsequent statement on Wednesday night, Itua said the earlier announcement regarding the approval of the free bus services should be disregarded.
The statement read: “The earlier statement announcing the approval of free bus services by the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, should be disregarded.
“The governor is being briefed on issues surrounding the operation of the state-owned Edo City Transport Service, operators of the free bus services.
“For now, the free bus services have been placed on hold. A new decision by the governor will be communicated to the general public.”
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