The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives has summoned the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) over outstanding debt estimated at over N100 billion on the federation account.
The committee gave the three electricity distribution companies (Discos) a 72-hour ultimatum at a public hearing in Abuja on Monday to appear before it or face sanctions for legislative contempt.
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Chairman of the committee Bamidele Salaam issued the directive citing that the affected discos had failed to honor several previous invitations. The proposal came after consideration of an interim report submitted by Mark Obata, chair of the subcommittee.
The Public Accounts Committee had summoned 11 power distribution companies over the cumulative debt of Rs 2.6 trillion outstanding on the federation account as of August 20, 2025.
However, the management of IBEDC, BEDC and PHEDC have consistently failed to appear before the committee to account for their outstanding liabilities, as pointed out in the Auditor General's report for the 2021 and 2022 financial years.
The Committee condemned the willful acts of legislative contempt by the three Discos and warned that stringent sanctions would be imposed if they failed to appear before the Committee on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Salam expressed deep concern over the long-term nature of the loans, noting that some liabilities have not been paid for more than a decade.
He stressed the need for immediate and decisive action to recover the funds and ensure that they are properly accounted for in the interest of the Nigerian government and public.
