Sunday Oduntan, ANED Spokesman

The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), has faulted a recent comment attributed to Dr. Andrew Nevin, Chief Economist of PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PwC), which suggested that Distribution Companies (DisCos) were not paying taxes.

Dr. Nevin, at a  power sector roundtable organised by Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited was quoted to have declared that no Distribution Company (DisCo) in Nigeria has paid any tax to the Federal Government since 2013 when they were privatized, because they have been “on a loss-making track” since then.

ANED however said while it acknowledged Dr. Nevin’s effort to highlight the challenges of the sector in his presentation, thus, fostering dialogue that is critical for the resolution of same, unequivocally stated that the claim relating to Discos not paying FG taxes is misleading, incorrect and not supported by the facts.

In a statement by ANED’s Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Sunday Oduntan, the DisCos said
“As responsible corporate citizens, all of our member DisCos take their tax obligations to the federal and state governments, as applicable, seriously. As a result, the DisCos diligently pay all necessary taxes that apply to their operations.

“These taxes include the minimum Company Income Tax (CIT), Withholding Tax (WHT) and Value Added Tax (VAT).

“We will like to encourage all parties interested in the growth and success of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry to constantly diligently verify their information, to avoid creating more challenges than that which already exists in the sector.”