Debt crisis: IBEDC, Oyo govt reach agreement
Government of Oyo State and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) have finally resolved their differences which saw the electricity company disconnecting the state government.
Recall that the two had been trading blames over alleged outstanding debts.
IBEDC in its argument said that the Oyo State Government was owing the company the sum of N450m.
The company went ahead to disconnect the power supply to the government secretariat on Wednesday.
Retaliating, the state government then went ahead to seal all the offices of the company in the state.
The government explained that it sealed the offices because the company was owing the state government outstanding tax amounting to four hundred million Naira (N400m).
Major cities and villages in the state have suffered blackouts since then.
However, the two parties on Thursday disclosed that they have resolved their differences.
The two parties after a meeting at the government secretariat in Ibadan declared their readiness to work together.
They promised to find an amicable resolution of all issues surrounding the recent sealing of the IBEDC offices.
In a statement jointly signed by Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Seun Ashamu, and the Chief Operating Officer of IBEDC, John Ayodele, they both promised to continue to work together in the interest of the residents of the state.
The statement read, “This is to notify the general public that the Oyo State Government and the IBEDC have resolved and agreed to work together in the interest of the public.
“The general public is hereby assured of the restoration of electricity supply as soon as possible, while the two parties shall continue amicable resolution of the issue in the interest of the public, including working together to make electricity meters available to residents of the state.”