N93b debt: We will not disconnect indebted MDAs – ANED

The Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors on Saturday said it would not disconnect power supply to Government Ministries Departments and Agencies over the N93 billion outstanding debts.
The Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of ANED, Sunday Oduntan, disclosed this in in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos .
Oduntan spoke against speculations that Distribution Companies may disconnect MDAs for failure to settles their indebtedness to the distribution companies.
According to Oduntan, DISCOs are more interested in negotiating and making sure the issues are resolved amicably.
He said that the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, had promised DISCOs that government was making arrangement for the payment.
The director said DISCOs believed that Fashola would always fulfill his promise, adding that the negotiation with the government representatives would be positive.
Oduntan said: “We are aware of the present challenges faced the present administration in economic sector and its efforts in ensuring regular electricity supply to all and sundry.
“Disconnection of all MDAs will only add to these challenges, so we are engaging the Federal Government in a negotiation at present and we believed that this will resolve the financial crisis in the sector.”
Oduntan urged electricity consumers nationwide to ensure prompt payment of the electricity bills.
NAN reports that on May 21, ANED announced that all historic debtors, including residential, commercial, industrial and government establishments across the three tiers of government would be disconnected due to unpaid electricity bills.
ANED said government establishments, including the military and security agencies alone, owed the DISCOs over N93 billion.
Fashola, had at a town hall forum organised by the Kukah Centre, on June 16, promised to pay the N78.7 billion electricity debts owed distribution companies by MDAs before the end of the year.
NAN.