Officials of the Oyo State Government, on Wednesday, sealed off offices of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc. in the state for disconnecting electricity supply to the Agodi state secretariat in Ibadan.
The IBEDC said that the state government went ahead to shut down its offices despite owing it a total of N450million over a period of three years.
The Chief Operating Officer of IBEDC, John Ayodele, in a statement on Wednesday, said that the state government claimed that the company owed it revenue bills and personal income tax.
The statement quoted Ayodele as saying that IBEDC had written several letters to the state government and had held meetings with its officials to remind them of the need to pay the debt, without any result.
The statement read, “The management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc. hereby informs its esteemed customers of the retaliatory and illegal action of the Oyo State Government over the issue of its huge indebtedness.
“The Oyo State Government, on Wednesday, 9th February, 2022 commenced the sealing of our offices within the state over some suddenly contrived debts labelled revenue bills and personal income without due notification.
“This issue of revenue bills and personal income arising now is quite suspicious.
“Oyo State Government is owing IBEDC a whopping consumption outstanding of N450million for over a period of three years.
“No business in this country can run successfully with such a huge outstanding. The power we distribute to customers must be accounted for and paid for. We have no choice but to disconnect the Oyo State Secretariat so it is worrisome to see that the government has sealed off our offices with this underhand and arm twisting tactics instead of paying the debt owed.
“This was not done in good faith and it would have damaging effect on the business and service delivery to our customers.
“The COO appealed to the state governor, His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, to look into the matter in the interest of all concerned as this would further exacerbate the power challenges and pressure on residents and commercial activities within the state.
“IBEDC engages in essential services to the public and the effect of this arm twisting tactics can at best be imagined if not quickly arrested.”
