Senate Expresses Concern over N91.96bn MDAs’ Debts to Ikeja, Eko Discos

Peter Uzoho

The Nigerian Senate has expressed concerns over a combined N91.96 billion outstanding debts owed Ikeja Electric (IE) Plc and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) by the federal government’s ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

A breakdown of the debts showed that while IE is being owed N70.96 billion by the MDAs, EKEDC is being owed N21 billion by the MDAs.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Senator Theodore Orji, expressed worry over the MDAs’ indebtedness to the Discos when the committee paid an oversight visit to the power firms in their Lagos headquarters recently.

The two firms in separate statements quoted Orji as saying that such indebtedness was an impediment to their vision and mission of providing quality service to their customers.

Ikeja Electric in its statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communication, Mr. Felix Ofulue, quoted the Senate committee chairman to have expressed concern over the outstanding N70.96 billion debt being owed the Disco by its customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

According to the statement, “He (Orji) noted that as a business venture, such indebtedness was an impediment to its vision of providing quality supply of electricity to its customers.

“Orji assured the management of the company that the legislative arm of government would look into the issue since majority of the debt was owed by MDAs.”

He was also quoted to have commended Ikeja Electric for its innovative ideas that had resulted in an improved power supply to customers.

At EKEDC, the committee chairman said that the delegation was on an oversight duty to interface with electricity distribution companies for the purpose of national development, assuring Eko Disco that its concerns including the N21 billion MDAs debt to it, would be taken to the Senate for further actions.

A statement by the Disco said Orji, who was accompanied by the Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Adelere Oriolowo; amongst others, commended Eko Disco for its performance in infrastructural development, metering as well as providing employment opportunities to many Nigerians.

He stated that its mission was to, among other things, review the performance of the Discos as well as hear their concerns in a bid to find lasting solutions to them for improved performance.