The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has backed the Minister of Power’s call for stronger collaboration between federal and state authorities, insisting that Nigerians are more interested in reliable electricity than who regulates the sector.
The position was reinforced at a policy workshop in Abuja on the decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), where the Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, urged regulators and policymakers to harmonise their legal, policy and operational frameworks to accelerate electricity access across the country.
The workshop, themed “Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between Federal and State Institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry,” focused on addressing emerging challenges as more states assume greater responsibility for electricity regulation following recent constitutional and legislative reforms.
Speaking at the event, NERC Chairman Dr. Musiliu Oseni said regulatory disputes and overlapping responsibilities should not distract stakeholders from the real objective of delivering stable and affordable electricity to Nigerians.
“Nigerians do not really care about who regulates what or who is responsible for policymaking. They care about the availability and reliability of electricity supply,” he said.Oseni urged stakeholders across the evolving multi-tier electricity market to put aside institutional rivalries, embrace dialogue and work together to improve service delivery.
He also proposed more frequent policy meetings between the Federal Government and state commissioners responsible for power, suggesting reforms to the National Council on Power (NACOP) to enable regular coordination and faster resolution of policy issues during the transition to a decentralised electricity market.
The renewed call for cooperation comes as Nigeria’s electricity sector undergoes significant reforms, with several states establishing their own electricity markets and regulatory agencies under the amended Electricity Act, making coordination between federal and state institutions increasingly important to ensure a seamless and efficient power sector.