Reps Summon Benin, Port Harcourt, Ibadan Discos Over N100bn Payment Default

By Balarabe Alkassim, Abuja

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 summon was announced at the hearing held by the Committee on Monday.

The Committee gave the Discos until Thursday 18th December, 2025 to appear and provide explanations for the outstanding payments.

The committee stated that, if the three Discos failed to appear after the 72-hour ultimatum, they will face sanctions for legislative contempt.

Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, 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 the chairman of the subcommittee, Hon. Mark Chidi Obetta.

It could be recalled that PAC had earlier 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 contained 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.

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

Rep. Salam 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.