The Federal Government has reversed its decision to halt the transfer of electricity regulatory oversight to state governments.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this on Monday during a two-day stakeholders workshop focused on the implementation of the Electricity Act, organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in Lagos.
Adelabu’sannouncement follows a recent announcement of plans to pause the transfer of regulatory autonomy to states and conduct a test phase with select states, which sparked confusion regarding the minister’s authority to issue such a directive against the Act.
However, at the workshop, Adelabu clarified that the federal government would adhere to the law and not proceed against it.
“Granting of regulatory autonomy to states is a provision of the new Act and no one person can single-handedly go against the Act,” he said.
“It’s a provision of the law and no law-abiding officer of the state will want to go against the law. It is already included and it must be duly respected.”
Adelabu stated that the event was to address the potential challenges that might surface while transitioning.
In April, oversight of the electricity market was transferred by NERC to three states: Ondo, Ekiti, and Enugu, as mandated by the Electricity Act, which requires NERC to do so within six months after a state follows the prescribed legal process.
