Senate sitting stalls as lawmakers await AEDC to restore electricity

The Nigerian Senate has been reported to have suffered power outage during their sitting on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Report indicates that the Senate were made to wait for the Abuja Electricity Distribution PLC to restore electricity before their session could begin.

After a while, the power was restored, and the Senate President Godswill Akpabio started the meeting.

In February, Abuja Electricity Distribution PLC (AEDC), warned that it would embark on a mission to disconnect electricity services to 86 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) due to an outstanding debt of N47.1bn.

Among these MDAs are the Ministry of Finance, Information, Budget, Works and Housing, various barracks, Nigeria Police Force, Presidential Villa, CBN Governor, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and state liaison offices in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The directive states that the government agencies in debt must settle their outstanding payments within ten days, by February 28, 2024, or risk having their services disconnected.

The notice reads: "The relevant MDAs are hereby given that AEDC shall, after the expiration of 10 days from the day of the publication to pay their debt, that is, after Wednesday, February 28, 2024, embark on disconnection of service to them until they discharge their obligation to pay us their debts."

The Chief of Defence Staff, Barracks, Military installations, Federal Capital Territory Authority, and Ministry of Finance were identified as the primary debtors during the specified period.

The Ministry of Power, Ministry of State Petroleum, Central Bank Governor, Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Police Force, and various other government agencies were also listed as debtors to AEDC.

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