Oyo govt owes IBEDC N450m

By Our Correspondent

The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company(IBEDC), has said that that the Oyo State government is indebted to the electricity company a whooping sum of N450 million outstanding bills.

A statement signed by the company's Chief Operating Officer, Engr. John Ayodele and made available to newsmen, hinted residents and customers on its franchise of the retaliatory and illegal action of the Oyo State government over the issue of its huge indebtedness. 

It was gathered that the state government on Wednesday morning, commenced the sealing of the company's offices within the state over some suddenly contrived debts labelled  revenue bills and personal income without due notification. 

This issue of revenue bills and personal income arising now, according to IBEDC, is quite suspicious.

Engr. Ayodele, in the statement further said the Oyo State Government is owing IBEDC a whopping  consumption outstanding of N450 million for over a period of three years. 

Engr. Ayodele explained that the company as  part of efforts to get the outstanding paid initiated several engagements through correspondences and physical meetings, but all these  efforts yielded no result . 

The statement reads: "No business in this country can run successfully with such  a huge outstanding, the power we distribute to customers must be accounted for and paid for, we have no choice but to disconnect the Oyo State Secretariat, so it is worrisome  to see that the government has sealed off our offices with this underhand and arm twisting tactics , instead of paying the debt owed."

"This was not done in good faith and it would have damaging effect on the business  and service delivery to our customers ."

The COO appealed to Governor 'Seyi Makinde to look into the matter in the interest of all concerned, adding that this would further exacerbate the power challenges and pressure on residents and commercial activities  within the state.

"IBEDC engages in essential services to the public and the effect of this arm twisting tactics can at best be imagined if not quickly arrested," the statement concluded.