The House of Representatives’ Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to appear before it over more than N100 billion in unpaid funds owed to the Federal Government.

The directive came during a public hearing in Abuja on Monday, led by Bamidele Salam, the committee chairman. The action follows an interim report from the sub-committee headed by Mark Obetta, which reviewed the companies’ repeated failures to respond to earlier summons.

The unpaid funds, highlighted in the Auditor-General’s reports for 2021 and 2022, relate to revenues and statutory obligations that should have been remitted to the Federation Account. While other electricity distribution companies have complied with previous inquiries, IBEDC, BEDC, and PHEDC have consistently ignored invitations, prompting PAC’s warning of sanctions.

Salam expressed concern over the prolonged nonpayment, noting that some of these liabilities have persisted for over ten years. He stressed the need for decisive action to recover the funds and ensure accountability in the interest of the government and the public.

The PAC emphasized that its measures aim to strengthen financial discipline, enforce compliance, and safeguard public resources in the strategically important power sector. Failure to comply with the summons could result in penalties as provided by law.

This latest move is part of PAC’s broader investigation, launched in August 2025, into 11 electricity distribution companies for a combined N2.6 trillion owed to the Federation Account. The committee has said that rigorous enforcement is crucial to maintaining transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.