The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (DISCO) has revealed that military formations within its license area are indebted to the company to the tune of N600 million.
The company also said it will soon install bulk prepaid meters in military and other security agencies’ barracks within its operational territory.
Mr Godwin Idemudia, General Manager, Corporate Communications, made the disclosure in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
The statement said that Mr Oladele Amoda, Chief Executive Officer of the company, noted that the installation of the prepaid meters would totally eliminate controversies regarding the accuracy of electricity bills in the barracks.
The statement said that about 60 per cent of the N600m debt is being owed by the Army, while about 30 and 10 per cent of the debt profiles were for the Navy and Air force.
It expressed his displeasure over the harassment of the company’s staff on their legitimate duties by some military personnel.
It said molesting staff that were performing their lawful duties would not augur well for the promotion of military-civil relations which the high echelon of the military had been canvassing in recent time.
It added that the Eko DISCO chief helmsman said that since the distribution company paid for energy received from the grid, no segment of customers could be allowed not to pay.
According to the statement, no business can thrive when services rendered are not paid for by its patrons.
It appealed to military formations and Ministries, Departments and Agencies to make payment for electricity bills a priority on the list of their proposed expenditure.
The statement expressed the hope that with the signing of the budget for the current financial year, many government establishments would offset their huge electricity bills.
It also appealed to military personnel having either private or official quarters outside the barracks to pay for electricity consumed in such premises.
It advised military personnel to desist from tagging such premises as military zone and using that as an opportunity to harass and scare the company’s staff while on their official duties.
The statement said the company had resorted to disconnecting some military formations after all efforts to make them defray their huge debt to the company proved abortive.
It said that the order to disconnect was only given after several letters and notices of intention to withdraw service were not responded to.
The statement assured all customers having complaints over their bills to lodge such through any of the company’s channels of attending to customer’s complaints.
It stressed that each complaint would be treated on its own merit with full regard for safeguarding the customer’s interest.
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