Oscarline Onwuemenyi
08 August 2016, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors, ANED, the umbrella body representing the 11 electricity distribution companies in Nigeria, over the weekend said it would not disconnect power supply to Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, and military installations over the N93 billion outstanding debts.
The Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of ANED, Mr Sunday Oduntan, who disclosed this in in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the Discos are more interested in negotiating and making sure the issues are resolved amicably.
He spoke against speculations that Discos may disconnect MDAs and other outfits for failure to settle their indebtedness to the distribution companies.
Oduntan added that the group is taking the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatinde Fashola, on his promised that government was making arrangement for the payment.
He said that Discos believed that the Fashola would always fulfil his promise, adding that the negotiation with the government representatives would be positive.
“We are aware of the present challenges faced the present administration in the economic sector and its efforts in ensuring regular electricity supply to all and sundry.
“Disconnection of all MDAs will only add to these challenges, so we are engaging the Federal Government in a negotiation at present and we believed that this will resolve the financial crisis in the sector,” he said.
He urged electricity consumers nationwide to ensure prompt payment of the electricity bills.
ANED announced in May that all historic debtors, including residential, commercial, industrial and government establishments across the three tiers of government would be disconnected due to unpaid electricity bills.
ANED said that government establishments, including the military and security agencies alone, owed the DISCOs over N93 billion.
Fashola, had at a town hall forum organised by the Kukah Centre, on June 16, promised to pay the N78.7 billion electricity debts owed distribution companies by MDAs before the end of the year.
