President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate settlement of outstanding electricity bills due to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
The order is contained in a statement by Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that the President’s directive followed the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and AEDC.
Onanuga said that contrary to the AEDC’s initial claim of N923 million debt in a paid advertorial in newspapers, the State House outstanding bill is N342,352,217.46.
The Presidential aide added that the clarification is contained in a letter by the management of AEDC to the State House Permanent Secretary dated Feb. 14.
“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,” he said.
The AEDC had advertised the names of its debtors, which include the State House, MDAs, State Governments and local councils within its franchise areas.