IBEDC drags UCH to NERC over N217m debt

The management of Ibadan Distribution Company, on Monday, dragged the University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH) to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) arbitration panel over N217 million debts.

Mr Bamidele Falade, the manager, Business Hub Commercial of IBEDC, told the NERC panel sitting in Ibadan that the management decided to involve third party intervention because of the huge debts owed the Disco.

Falade said the company had appealed to the management of UCH on why they should pay their outstanding debt of N217 million but to no avail.

According to him, they were constrained in disconnecting their electricity due to the services they render but they ignored paying bills despite several dialogues and appeals.

“The huge outstanding debt is affecting our operations. UCH is the only hospital that has refused to pay the electricity debt among the hospitals within our franchise areas. We urge NERC as an independent arbitrator to assist in imploring the UCH management to pay,” he said.

Falade said the hospital which monthly bill was between N20 million and N24 million enjoyed 22-hours power supply daily.

‘‘If we have the money they owe us, we will be comfortable. It will strengthen our operations. We appeal to the commission’s panel to instruct the UCH management to give definite timeline for the payment of the debt.”

Mr Yemi Shiyanbola, the Director of Admin, UCH admitted owing the debt but appealed to the DisCo to give them ample time to settle the bills.

Shiyanbola said the management was constrained due to the low subvention received from the Federal Government.