The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has ordered the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) to remit ₦72 billion to the Nigerian government within 60 days.
This directive forms part of an ongoing investigation into multi-trillion-naira debts owed by electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to the Federation Account.
The order was issued during a public hearing in Abuja, chaired by Mr. Bamidele Salam, following a review of the 2021 report of the Auditor-General of the Federation and documents submitted by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc.
According to NBET, the indebtedness of Jos DisCo as of 30 September 2020 stood at ₦161.7 billion. However, the company admitted to owing ₦72 billion as of 30 May 2025.
NBET’s representative informed the committee that “as of the same May 2025 date, the reconciled debt owed by Jos DisCo stood at ₦98.7 billion, leaving a disputed balance of ₦26.7 billion between the two parties.”
Following deliberations, the committee resolved that the admitted ₦72 billion must be paid to the Nigerian Government within 60 days. It also directed NBET and Jos DisCo to reconcile the outstanding ₦26.7 billion within 21 days and report back to the committee.
Committee chairman Mr. Salam stressed the importance of timely remittances to the Federation Account, noting that the government could no longer tolerate non-compliance from power sector operators.
“This is public money, and the federal government urgently needs these funds to fulfil its responsibilities. We expect full compliance and accountability,” he said.
In a related development, the Committee also directed the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) to pay ₦40.7 billion, representing 50 percent of its verified debt of ₦81.5 billion within 30 days.
Initially, NBET had listed KEDCO’s debt at ₦211.7 billion, but after a reconciliation process between both parties, the figure was reduced to ₦85.8 billion.
KEDCO, led by Hussani Sadiq acknowledged a verified indebtedness of ₦81.5 billion, with ₦4.3 billion still under dispute.
The committee instructed KEDCO to submit evidence of payment of the ₦40.7 billion within the 30-day deadline and to reconcile the disputed ₦4.3 billion within 21 days.