… Committee to resolve issues within 4-week rollout
Senate Power Committee halts EA amendment, agrees to stakeholder consultations to build reform consensus
Joseph Tegbe, Minister of Power, has announced the formation of a nine-member inter-agency committee—comprising representatives from Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), state electricity regulatory commissions (SERCs), the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and the Bureau of Public Enterprises, to fast-track implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, with a four-week mandate to resolve emerging issues and ensure seamless operational rollout.
The announcement was made on Tuesday at a high-level stakeholder engagement convened by Joseph Tegbe to advance efforts at resolving the emerging regulatory impasse between the NERC and SERCs, as part of broader moves to ensure a coordinated and seamless transition under the Electricity Act 2023.
Advisors Reports gathered that the high-level meeting brought together critical stakeholders across Nigeria’s electricity value chain to deepen coordination on the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023 and accelerate the country’s transition to a decentralized power market.
The Minister described the shift as one of the most far-reaching reforms in decades and stressing that the success of the emerging multi-market framework would hinge on collaboration rather than institutional rivalry.
Participants at the engagement included representatives of the National Assembly, the Presidency through the Special Adviser on Power, the Bureau of Public Enterprises, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, heads of federal power agencies, state commissioners for energy, and state electricity regulators, who collectively examined key transition issues such as regulatory overlaps, tariff structures, capacity gaps, and the need for stronger alignment between federal and subnational institutions.
The deliberations provided a platform for frank discussions on resolving emerging frictions between the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, while outlining practical pathways to ensure regulatory clarity, attract investment, and enhance service delivery outcomes.
Tegbe reiterated that while implementation challenges are inevitable in a reform of this scale, they must be addressed collaboratively without undermining regulatory standards, consumer protection, or market stability, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to building a modern, reliable, and investor-friendly electricity market anchored on sustained federal-state cooperation.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, after the extensive deliberations, agreed to defer the ongoing legislative process of amending the Electricity Act, 2023 to allow for broader consultation and consensus-building among stakeholders.
He noted that effective reforms require sustained engagement across all levels of government and the electricity value chain.
Various stakeholders who spoke reaffirmed their commitment to closer collaboration to support the successful implementation of the reforms in line with vision of President Bola Tinubu.
