Minister, NERC Want Harmonised Federal, State Rules In Electricity Market

The minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), have urged federal and state authorities to harmonise regulatory and operational arrangements in the Nigerian Electricity Market (NEM) to improve access, reliability and service delivery.

Speaking at a workshop convened by the Ministry of Power in Abuja, themed “Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between Federal and State Institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI),” Chief Tegbe stated that this would ensure power sector players work towards the onerous goal of increasing access to electricity supply for Nigerians, as electricity remains the bedrock for the development of any nation.

The NERC chairman, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, also echoed that message, insisting that Nigerians care less about which level of government makes or enforces rules than about consistent, uninterrupted supply.

Dr. Oseni urged stakeholders in the emerging multi‑tier market to “drop our ego and personal interests, embrace dialogue and let us all work together to meet the yearnings of Nigerians.”

The NERC Chairman urged all actors within the emerging multi-tier electricity market to sustain dialogue, strengthen cooperation and remain focused on delivering improved outcomes for electricity consumers.

“Nigerians do not really care about who regulates what or who is responsible for policymaking, but they strongly care about the availability and reliability of supply. It does not matter to them who drives the sector, be it state or federal, but who actually meets their supply needs.

“It is on this basis I wish to urge all actors in the room to reflect, drop our ego and personal interests, embrace dialogue and let us all work together to meet the yearnings of Nigerians.

“We must create a strategic platform where regulatory and policy dialogues on the issues relating to the power sector take place,” Oseni said

Continuing, the NERC chairman urged the minister to institute periodic policy meetings with policy commissioners from the states.

He noted “The platform through which this could take place already exists – i.e., the National Council on Power (NACOP) – but there is a need to reform the structure of engagements. Relatively more frequent and more focused policy meetings with state commissioners may be adopted as against the annual and somewhat large gathering adopted in the past.

“These will ensure frequent touchpoints between the federal and the state governments on policy implementation and coordination, especially during this transition phase,” Dr Oseni emphasised.