27th July, 2016
The Bauchi Business Unit Manager of Jos Electricity Distribution Company says it disconnected Bauchi State Government establishments over N1.6 billion debt.
The Manager, Alhaji Aminu Mohammed, in Bauch on Wednesday said that the debt accumulated since 2007.
Mohammed said several meetings with the state government officials over the issue had failed to yield any result.
He said the company had no other option than to disconnect the government establishments in the last three weeks, including the state water board.
He said that out of the amount, Gubi Dam Treatment Plant owed the company N20 million while the state government’s monthly bill was N60 million.
“The state government only pays the company N30 million monthly leaving the balance of N30 million.
“The bill has accumulated since 2007 and several meetings with the Accountant-General, Commissioner for Finance, Chief of Staff to the Governor and even the Governor himself were to no avail.
“Management of the company finally decided to disconnect all state government establishments and that is why there is no water supply for the last three weeks in Bauchi”, he said.
Mohammed threatened that the company would not reconnect the affected establishments until the debt was paid.
He said that inadequate finance had hindered the company from supplying electricity to consumers.
“The money realized from revenue is not enough to pay the workers’ salaries, therefore, we want to reach a concrete agreement with the state government before we reconnect the establishments”, he added.
Aminu Gital, General Manager, Bauchi State Water Board, confirmed that the water plants had been disconnected but declined to elaborate on the debt profile.
“Our plants are in good condition but they have been disconnected from the national grid by the electricity company and it is not economically wise to run them on generators”, he added.
Alhaji Ghali Ma’aji, the state Commissioner for Water Resources, said, “I am aware of the problem. I am in Abuja en-route to Egypt and I will talk to you when I am back.”
Most residents now depend on rainwater for domestic and commercial purposes while vendors make brisk business from the situation.