Reps summon management of Benin, Port Harcourt, Ibadan Discos over N100bn debt to FG

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) over outstanding debts estimated at more than N100 billion owed to the federation account.

The committee, at a public hearing on Monday in Abuja, gave the three electricity distribution companies (Discos) a 72-hour ultimatum to appear before it or face sanctions for legislative contempt.

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Bamidele Salam, chairman of the committee issued the directive after noting that the affected Discos had failed to honour several previous invitations. The resolution followed consideration of an interim report presented by Mark Obetta, chairman of the subcommittee.

The public accounts committee had on August 20, 2025, summoned 11 electricity distribution companies over a cumulative debt of ₦2.6 trillion owed to the federation account.

However, the management of IBEDC, BEDC, and PHEDC have consistently failed to appear before the committee to account for their outstanding liabilities, as detailed in the Auditor-General’s reports for the 2021 and 2022 financial years.

The committee condemned what it described as deliberate acts of legislative contempt by the three Discos and warned that stiff sanctions would be imposed should they fail to appear before the committee on Thursday, December 18, 2025.

Salam, expressed deep concern over the long-standing nature of the debts, noting that some of the liabilities have remained unpaid for over a decade.

He stressed the need for urgent and decisive action to recover the funds and ensure they are properly accounted for in the interest of the Nigerian government and the public.

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