NECA Wants FG To Address Outstanding Electricity Supply Debt Of Military Bases Across The Country

The Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, has implored the Federal Government to address outstanding electricity supply debt of military bases across the country.

Oyerinde, in an exclusive interview with Daily Independent, frowned at the recent attack by Airforce personnel from the Sam Ethan Airforce Base Ikeja on workers of Ikeja Electric office at Isolo and the head office at Alausa Ikeja, which was precipitated by the disconnection of electricity supply to the Base by Ikeja electric over unpaid electricity consumed, which runs into millions of Naira.

He emphasised that such action is unlawful and capable of diminishing the headways made in democratic governance in the country over the years.

He said: “The gory development has evoked the reactions of various stakeholders of the economy, particularly as the attack bordered on the quality of Nigeria’s democratic governance, which is a critical factor for investment inflow into the country”.

He observed that such an intimidation and attack on a company of the caliber of Ikeja Electric shows high level of impunity and is a bad omen for the future of the economy.

He noted that the attack is a wrong signal for prospective domestic and foreign investors, stating that no rational investor would invest money in a country where his investments and personnel are compromised with such impunity as displayed by the Airforce personnel from Ikeja Airforce Base.

“It is unfortunate that while the Federal Government is working effortlessly to address the basic macroeconomic goals of growth of the economy and employment creation, some individuals are unscrupulously and deliberately undermining the efforts.

The Director General of NECA, noted that Ikeja Electric is a private entity that invests money to make gains for the sustainability of the company.

The company is also a strong employment generator with over 2600 employees that depend on the company to maintain their families.

He emphasised that Ikeja Electric as a private business was lawfully registered in Nigeria and has the right to demand from the Sam Ethan Airforce Base management accumulated outstanding electricity debt owed to the company and also suspend its service for non-payment.

Mr. Adewale-Smatt stressed the urgency and critical importance to prevent the reoccurrence of such national embarrassment in view of the negative implication on the promising democracy of the country and the fragile investment space.

He, therefore, urged the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Ministry of Defense to swiftly intervene in this graceless attack on Ikeja Electric such that the amount owed to the company will be paid to them, while electricity supply is restored to the Base.

He observed that Ikeja Electric operates in a capital intensive space and that the operation has been grossly affected by the prevailing operating environment.

Mr. Oyerinde urged the Federal Government to also leverage this attack to set up a Committee to carry out a holistic appraisal of electricity supply debt profiles of other military bases across the country.

“Where such debt is found, arrangement should be made to swiftly defray them to adequately preclude a repeat of the attack on the DisCos anywhere in the country going forward”, he said.