The Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), has raised serious concerns over what it described as arbitrary and unsustainable electricity charges imposed by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), following a ₦107 million power bill for December 2025.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abakaliki, the hospital’s Director of Administration, Mr. Azubuike Calistus Okonkwo, said the electricity tariff issued to the federal tertiary health institution has followed a troubling upward trend since January 2025, placing severe strain on its operations.
According to him, the December bill of ₦107,006,620.72 represents an unprecedented escalation that threatens the hospital’s ability to deliver essential healthcare services to patients across Ebonyi State and beyond.
A review of AE-FUTHA’s electricity billing records over the past 12 months shows a consistent and steep increase. The hospital reportedly paid ₦26.5 million in January 2025, which rose to ₦71.5 million in November, before surging by nearly 500 percent to ₦107 million in December.
Okonkwo noted that between 2023 and 2024, the hospital’s monthly electricity bills were consistently below ₦20 million, making the current charges difficult to justify.
“Despite the steady rise in electricity tariffs since the assumption of office of the current Chief Medical Director, Prof. Robinson Chukwudi Onoh, the hospital has continued to pay its bills in good faith to ensure uninterrupted healthcare delivery,” he said.
However, he stressed that the December tariff has pushed the institution to a breaking point.
The hospital warned that if the trend continues unchecked, AE-FUTHA could end up spending over ₦1 billion annually on electricity alone, an amount described as clearly unsustainable for a public teaching hospital with responsibilities spanning patient care, training, research, and public health services.
Management also expressed concern over EEDC’s billing methodology, particularly the high charges associated with unmetered accounts, and called for an urgent audit of the billing system to ensure transparency and accuracy.
Okonkwo further questioned the rationale behind the December bill, noting that hospital activities were significantly reduced due to industrial actions.
He recalled that the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on strike action in October 2025, followed by an indefinite strike by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) from November 14, 2025.
“Despite reduced operations and lower expected electricity consumption during this period, the hospital’s bill jumped from ₦71.5 million in November to ₦107 million in December, raising serious questions about how the tariff was calculated,” he stated.
The hospital appealed to EEDC to immediately restore power supply, warning that any disruption could result in loss of lives.
AE-FUTHA operates critical units such as intensive care units, neonatal wards, operating theatres, laboratories, and diagnostic centres, all of which require constant electricity.
“Health is an essential service. Any power failure or financial strangulation caused by excessive billing directly puts lives at risk,” Okonkwo said.
The hospital called on the Ebonyi State Government, Federal Ministry of Power, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other relevant regulatory agencies to urgently intervene.
It urged authorities to review AE-FUTHA’s tariff classification, audit EEDC’s billing system, and ensure the adoption of a fair, transparent, and sustainable electricity tariff suitable for a public tertiary healthcare institution.
AE-FUTHA also appealed for a downward review of its monthly electricity bill to below ₦20 million, in line with previous billing patterns, as well as a waiver on outstanding arrears, while reaffirming its commitment to paying all verified bills promptly.
Stay updated with Ebonyi News Network for real-time reports, in-depth analysis, and exclusive coverage of policies shaping Ebonyi State.
