The Enugu State Government in South-East Nigeria, has come hard on the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, over its estimated billing practices and the disconnection of some State Government offices.
In a letter addressed to the EEDC Managing Director/CEO on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, and signed by Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, the Government expressed its displeasure with the recent actions taken by the Distribution company.
This development coincides with the State Government’s sealing of the EEDC Corporate Head Office on Okpara Avenue, Enugu City, as workers arriving at the office were left stranded. Some of them resorted to scaling the fence to gain entry and exit from the facility.
The government sealing of the headquarters of the Enugu DisCo is seen as a retaliatory action.
A notice posted at the company’s main entrance by the State Ministry of Lands cited non-payment of annual ground rent as the reason for the government action.
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The notice states that EEDC is owing N57.4 million in annual rent for 18 properties in the period between 2014 and 2023, including a 10% penalty.
The Electricity Distribution Company had recently made a publication on its plans to disconnect several government offices and private firms in the South-East region over unpaid electricity debts, with Enugu State Government reportedly owing over N1 billion.
The Enugu State Government letter has disputed the EEDC claims of the State’s indebtedness, explaining that the government has promptly paid all electricity bills received from EEDC since May 2023.
It also notes that Governor Peter Mbah’s administration had cleared a two-month backlog of debts to honour his commitment to settling all legitimate inherited electricity debts.
The Government is demanding a refund for its investments in electricity infrastructure of over N2 billion, from which it claims EEDC has significantly profited.
The Enugu State Government has also demanded an immediate retraction of EEDC’s defamatory claim of the State’s indebtedness and a public apology.
Attempts by AIT.live in Enugu to get reactions from the EEDC spokesperson, Emeka Ezeh, were not successful as he declined to comment, but simply said “I will respond later.”
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
