Electricity distribution companies in Nigeria have complained that 20 states out of the total of 36 have not paid their electrical bills.

According to the discos, some states owe electricity bills consumed by the state house or the secretariat.

The Executive Director of Research and Advocacy, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, stated on Monday, August 19, that most government agencies were used to free electricity before privatisation, and have refused to adjust since the sector was privatised.

Oduntan revealed that the Aso Rock villa owed electricity bills before President Bola Tinubu ordered that it be paid.

He said: “But does it have to get to the President for people that work there to know that they have to pay their bill?

"We shouldn’t get to the point where we have to threaten a state government or a state house, a ministry, a department or an agency with disconnection.

“If you look at all our states right now, at least 20 states are seen to be owing electricity bills in either the government house or MDAs.

“When the Discos now go to demand for money to be paid, the next day they (government agents) will go and seal off the Discos’ offices, saying they’re owing them some taxes.”

He advised Discos to always pay their taxes, but warned that states should not be mischievous.

“The Discos should pay their taxes, but the states should not be mischievous and be blackmailing the Discos every time we ask them to pay us.

“There is a state governor who is known for that kind of act. And one day, I hope to be able to come forward face-to-face with him and say, ‘Your Excellency, you have not been excellent. Paying your bill is something that you should know that you should do because when you run your generator in your government house, it costs you a lot more.

“I don’t want to mention the name of that governor or the state. But I will get outstanding debts from all states. I will need to get the information from the Discos. I will not waste time on it.

“We have a lot of issues when it comes to paying for electricity. Things are getting better now than it was in the past. But I’m still appealing to the states and Nigerians in general to please put the nation first.”