MDAs and military debt to Discos

Electricity distribution companies have threatened to disconnect military formations in the country as well as government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) due to unpaid debts. The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), a group of 11 energy distribution companies (Discos) issued the threat over N26 billion accumulated debts. Speaking with journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State […]

Electricity distribution companies have threatened to disconnect military formations in the country as well as government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) due to unpaid debts. The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), a group of 11 energy distribution companies (Discos) issued the threat over N26 billion accumulated debts.
Speaking with journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, ANED Director, Research and Advocacy, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, said that military formations in Kaduna, Lagos, Oyo, Kwara and Ogun states owe the Discos more than N10 billion.
A breakdown of electricity debts given by Oduntan showed that the military and MDAs of both federal and state governments owe N6.7 billion under Kaduna Disco,N7 billion under Abuja Disco, N5.2 billion under Ibadan Disco, N2.3 billion under Eko Disco, N3.8 billion under Benin Disco, and N860 million under Kano Disco. The debts in other Discos are running into several billions of naira.
“Of all the money we are collecting from distributing electricity to the public, we only retain less than 25 per cent as our own. All the remaining money goes to the other stakeholders. When you buy electricity, you supply out and the military, the MDAs and people are either not paying their debts or stealing energy; you now have commercial and collection losses.
“In the case of non-payment, the greatest problem we have today is the Nigerian military. Now given the figures under the Discos or wherever you see military formations, they owe huge electricity debts and the problem we have is that most of these military formations have refused to pay and they owe so much.” Oduntan stated.
He also accused military men of beating up electricity workers whenever they want to collect the electricity debts, and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and rescue members of staff from the continual beatings and humiliation. It is rather unfortunate that government agencies which ought to lead by example are the greatest culprits here. If government agencies cannot pay their bills, what moral right will they have to insist that private companies and individuals pay debts?  The amount being owed is enough to cripple the distribution companies, so how can the same government claim that it is interested in improving power supply if it cannot compel its agencies to pay for what is consumed. At a time like this when the country is lamenting dwindling revenue, agencies and ministries cannot afford to owe debts.
It is embarrassing for government agencies to be mentioned among debtors. Governments at all levels must be responsive to what is expected of them. The power sector is strategic to the growth of the nation’s economy as it can aid production and tackle unemployment among other issues. It is based on that that Nigerians have been clamouring for improved power supply.  But if this quantum of debt is being owed, then the hope for steady supply may never be realized.  It is true that often times people do not want to pay bills electricity bills because of the epileptic nature of supply, but how can the sector improve if payment is not made for what is supplied, however little. We therefore condemn the act and urge all affected ministries and agencies to pay up their debts. In the past few years, security agencies have been receiving huge sums in budgetary allocations; why then is the military the biggest debtor? This act of security services acting like they are above the law is condemnable. The law is for everybody and it is meant to be obeyed.
The military must also understand that, as a law enforcement agency, it ought to comport itself appropriately. Beating up electricity officials for demanding payment for power consumed is totally uncalled for.  If this trend continues, what moral right would it have to step in and maintain law and order if the matter is between civilians and power distribution companies?