The House of Representatives has invited the management teams of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company to appear before its Public Accounts Committee over their failure to remit more than N100 billion owed to the Federal Government.
At a public hearing in Abuja, the committee issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the three electricity distribution companies to appear before it or face sanctions for what it described as persistent disregard for legislative summons.
The decision followed the consideration of an interim report presented by the chairman of the Committee’s sub-committee, Mark Obetta.
The invitation to the companies is part of a broader investigation launched by the PAC on August 20, 2025, when 11 electricity distribution companies were invited to account for a cumulative debt of N2.6 trillion owed to the Federation Account.
The liabilities, as documented in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s reports for the 2021 and 2022 financial years, relate to unremitted revenues and statutory obligations due to the Federal Government.
While several of the affected companies have either appeared before the committee or engaged with the process, the managements of IBEDC, BEDC, and PHEDC have repeatedly failed to honour invitations, prompting the committee’s latest action.
Members of the committee described the conduct of the three Discos as “deliberate acts of legislative contempt” and warned that stiff sanctions would be imposed if they fail to appear before the Committee on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Addressing the hearing, committee chairman, Bamidele Salam, expressed concern over the prolonged nature of the outstanding debts, noting that some of the liabilities have remained unpaid for more than a decade.
“There is a 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,” he said.
The committee said ensuring compliance by electricity distribution companies is critical, given the strategic importance of the power sector and the scale of public funds involved.
The committee reiterated that its intervention is aimed at strengthening accountability, enforcing financial regulations, and safeguarding public resources, rather than disrupting legitimate business operations.
It emphasised that failure to comply with legislative summons would attract penalties as provided by law, underscoring the House of Representatives’ resolve to enforce transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
