By Kingsley Chukwuka
The newly appointed Managing Director of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED Plc), Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed less than 24 hours after he took over as the Chief Executive Officer of the power company, has resolved the long-standing impasse between the company and the Benue State Government.
Recall that the Management of the Benue State Revenue Agency, earlier in the year sealed up some offices belonging to JED Plc over a disagreement on tax payment modalities.
JED Plc had requested that the Revenue Agency should deduct the said tax from the debt the State Government owed the Company.
However, with no agreement reached, the Agency sealed JED Plc offices to date.
Taking over the mantle of leadership on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, Mohammed approached the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and in what seems like a swift reaction, the Governor ordered that JED Plc premises should be unsealed while the negotiation is sustained.
Ortom gave the charge in Abuja when the JED Plc boss and his team paid him a courtesy visit at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro.
According to the Governor, the decision was to enable the Government to begin a mutual relationship with the new management of the company, stating that the Government would also make concerted efforts to clear outstanding bills owed to the company.
He then directed the Chairperson of the Benue Internal Revenue Service, Mrs Mimi Adzape-Orubibi and the State Accountant General, Mr Agwaza Iorkpiligh, to liaise with the new management of JED Plc to sort out both the taxes owed by the company and outstanding electricity bills owed by the State Government.
Ortom however appealed to JED Plc to upgrade the level of power supply in the State.
“One of the cardinal policies of my administration is to industrialize the State but this has suffered some setbacks due to lack of adequate power supply.
“Some existing companies at the Industrial Layout folded up because they could not afford the rising cost of operating their plants using diesel.
“Benue is an agrarian State with the capacity to turn primary products into finished goods, and ensuring adequate power supply to residences and commercial areas would enhance the economic development”, Ortom said.
Responding, the JED Plc boss told the Governor that the company has already paid part of its owed taxes.
He explained that as part of their mandate to boost power supply in the State, the company has awarded a contract for the construction of a 330KVA line across the Benue bridge as well as included construction of more substations in their 2023 budget.
Mohammed assured Ortom that the company is working on boosting the power supply at the Makurdi Industrial Layout to boost socio-economic activities in and around the area.
He was accompanied by the Regional Manager of the Company in Makurdi, Mr Joseph Kwaghgba and other management staff.
Mohammed expressed appreciation to Ortom for the support he has given the company over the years, particularly the donation of land and provision of electricity transformers among other interventions.
Based on the advice of the Governor that the Management of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc seats with the Chairman of the BIRS and sort out the impasse, Engr Mohammed immediately proceeded to Makurdi where the matter was discussed amicably.
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