FIRS Seals AEDC Headquarters Over N362.3 Million Electricity Bill Despite Owing AEDC N115 Million

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) yesterday sealed the headquarters of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) over an outstanding electricity bill of N362.3 million, despite also owing AEDC N115 million. The closure, which took place around 1pm, prompted an emergency evacuation of AEDC staff despite the drizzling weather in Abuja.

Witnesses reported seeing AEDC employees leaving the premises under the watchful eyes of police officers brought in by FIRS to enforce the closure.

This incident follows AEDC’s publication last month of a list of government agencies with unpaid electricity bills. Although this list did not include FIRS, an earlier list published in January had named FIRS as one of its debtors.

Reports could not confirm if the outstanding bill had changed since January. When asked about the tax laws violated by AEDC that led to the closure, Zach Adedeji, Special Adviser, Media, to the Chairman of FIRS, directed inquiries back to AEDC. Adedeji stated, “Before FIRS will carry out an enforcement, it would have issued the company a notice on the tax law they violated. Let them tell you what they did.”

AEDC’s spokesperson, Adefisayo Akinsanya, was unreachable for comments, but an AEDC staff member revealed that the company had been in discussions with FIRS to resolve the issue amicably. The staff member said, “We were surprised by their action because a meeting was held between the two organisations a few weeks back to fashion how the matter can be settled amicably. I believe it is a show of strength. The office will be opened for us. They just want to make a statement to us through force.”