- As President Tinubu Orders Payment of Electricity Bill
Nigeria’s president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday ordered that the outstanding bill for the villa’s power consumption should be paid immediately, after the threat to disconnect power at the Presidential Villa.
The presidency however said rather than the over N900m claimed in a newspaper advertorial, the state house of is owing the power company a sum of N342, 352, 217.46
NPO Reports that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company had listed the Presidential Villa, army barracks and many ministries, departments and agencies of the government as debtors whose outstanding have crippled the operations of the electricity company.
A statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the president on Information and Strategy quoted Tinubu as ordering that the Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila should facilitate the payment.
“President Bola Tinubu has directed immediate settlement of outstanding electricity bill due to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.
“The President’s directive follows the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and AEDC.
“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.” the statement said.
It added that the Chief of Staff also urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with AEDC and pay their electricity bills.
