In what seems like a back-and-forth game, the management of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company has disconnected power supply to the Kaduna State Government House and other state government offices over unpaid bills amounting to N2.9 Billion.
This followed an earlier sealing up of Kaduna Electric headquarters by the Kaduna Internal Revenue Service on Friday morning over unpaid taxes of over N600 million.
The Executive Chairman of the service, Jerry Adams, who led the operation, explained that the Service secured a court order for the immediate closure and taking over of the Company’s property until all unpaid taxes are settled.
Adams explained that the N600m tax liability was from 2015 to 2022 when they did all the reconciliations with KAEDCO agreeing to pay a substantial amount of the liability.
The executive chairman, however, lamented, “Till this moment, since last year that the liability was established, KAEDCO has not met what it committed to do.
“We are backed by the law to seal and take over their premises in order to ensure compliance, and that is what we executed this morning.”
However, Kaduna Electric’s statement added that the outstanding balance for electricity consumed from January 2024 to July 2024 alone amounts to a staggering One Billion, One Hundred and Sixty-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-One Naira, Eighty-Seven Kobo (N1,166,856,991.87).
This figure, including the historical debt, has left the State Government with a huge debt that currently stands “at a total of Two Billion Nine Hundred and Forty -three, Million Sixty Thousand One Hundred and Sixteen Naira Seventy-Seven Kobo (N2,943,060,116.77),” according to KAEDCO.
It noted further that despite a recent payment of N256,920,963.88 made on May 9, 2024, for electricity consumed between September 2023 and December 2023, the Kaduna State Government’s debt remains significantly high.
“This payment, though substantial, has not been enough to clear the accumulated arrears,” it said.
Kaduna Electric’s decision to disconnect power came after repeated attempts to address the payment issues, including several consultations with state officials.
In contrast, other states under the Kaduna Electric franchise, namely Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara, have maintained their accounts in good standing, regularly meeting their electricity payment obligations and other repayment obligations with Kaduna Electric.
According to the statement, a disconnection notice was formally issued on July 21, 2024, and was received by the Office of the Governor on July 22, 2024.
Peoplesmind
