The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee on Monday summoned the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company over their failure to remit more than N100bn 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.
Chaired by the lawmaker representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore Federal Constituency of Osun State, Bamidele Salam, the decision followed the consideration of an interim report presented by the chairman of the Committee’s sub-committee, Mr Mark Obetta.
The summons 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 N2.6tn 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, 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 investigation aligns with the constitutional mandate of the Public Accounts Committee to scrutinise the accounts of government ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as private entities handling public funds.
In recent months, the committee has intensified efforts to recover outstanding revenues identified in audit reports, resulting in increased remittances to the Federation Account and renewed emphasis on fiscal discipline across revenue-generating and revenue-collecting institutions.
According to the committee, ensuring compliance by electricity distribution companies is critical, given the strategic importance of the power sector and the scale of public funds involved.
The PAC reiterated that its intervention is aimed at strengthening accountability, enforcing financial regulations, and safeguarding public resources, rather than disrupting legitimate business operations.
The committee stressed 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.
