The Ekiti State Government has passed a vote of no confidence on the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) following allegations of poor service delivery in the state.
This came as the government directed its officials to unseal the BEDC State Office, which had been under lock for the past one month over alleged evasion of operational permit and tenement rate gulping N10m.
Addressing newsmen on Monday, the Chairperson of Ado Council Area of the state, Mrs Omotunde Fajuyi decried that many communities had been without electricity supply for many years despite the exorbitant estimated billing system, which she said is exposing residents to untold hardship.
Fajuyi said the activities of the BEDC in the state are antithetical to the purpose of which it was established, saying it have failed to meet targets and demands of electricity consumers.
She lamented the uncooperative attitude of BEDC to pay off its accumulated tax owing the council despite overtures by to ensure it defray the debt in a convenient manner.
“It is disheartening to note that since the BEDC came into existence in Ekiti State, the company has evaded tax till date in spite of the enormous billing burden they place on electricity.
“With the BEDC arrogance and demonstration of being above the law, Ado Council area on 27 April, 2021 decided to seal one of the one numerous Offices of BEDC within the council to enforce compliance with our requests.
“On May 11, 2021, a delegation from the BEDC held a meeting with the Council, where the team claimed that they have the mandate of their headquarters to attend the meeting and negotiate on behalf of BEDC.
“At the meeting, where the bye-law was shown to this team, an agreement was reached that BEDC was owing to the LG N10 million only being charges due for the eight years have defaulted.
“BEDC through his team requested for an arrangement to make them pay the money thrice, requesting that a letter be forwarded to their office to this effect for onward transmission to their headquarters in Benin and further requested that their office opened.
“To the dismay of the LG, BEDC instead of fulfilling the agreement reached with the council came up with a letter from their legal retainer, threatening fire and brimstone. Their first letter was followed by a subsequent letter of intention to commence legal action. And the local government on its part is not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that lawless attitude of BEDC regarding tax evasion is redressed”, Fajuyi said.
She said that the decision to unseal the distribution company’s office was sequel to series of appeals by Governor Kayode Fayemi, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe and other critical stakeholders in the state.
The Council boss who gave the BEDC two weeks ultimatum to offset the debt incurred, threatened that she would not hesitate to explore every legal means to retrieve the money owed.
She called on the Federal Government to review the BEDC’s contractual agreement or revoke the operational licence over the inability to render effective and efficient service to electricity consumers.
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