President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate payment of the outstanding electricity bill of the Presidential Villa due to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
The President’s directive follows the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and AEDC.
However, contrary to the AEDC’s initial claim of N923 million debt in an advertorial in ThisDay newspaper on Monday, Onanuga said: “The State House’s 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.
“Following the example of the Presidency, the Chief of Staff also urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with AEDC and pay their electricity bills. ”
Recall that AEDC issued a disconnection notice on Monday due to outstanding debt owed by the Presidential villa and 85 other ministries, departments, and agencies under the federal and state governments.
