The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has thrown its weight behind the call by the Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, for greater harmonisation of regulatory and operational activities in the Nigerian Electricity Market (NEM).
Speaking at a workshop convened in Abuja with the theme “Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between Federal and State Institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI)”, the Minister stressed that synergy among stakeholders is vital to expanding access to electricity supply.
Chief Tegbe noted: “Electricity remains the bedrock for the development of any nation. Harmonisation will ensure that power sector players work towards the onerous goal of increasing access to electricity supply for Nigerians.”
In his opening address, NERC Chairman, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, echoed the Minister’s sentiments, urging stakeholders to put aside personal interests and focus on delivering reliable power to consumers.
Dr. Oseni remarked: “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.”
He further called for sustained dialogue and cooperation among actors in the emerging multi-tier electricity market, adding: “I 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.”
The NERC Chairman proposed reforms to the National Council on Power (NACOP), suggesting more frequent and focused policy meetings with state commissioners rather than the traditional annual large gatherings.
According to him, this would create “frequent touchpoints between the federal and state governments on policy implementation and coordination, especially during this transition phase.”
The workshop brought together policymakers, regulators, and operators across the electricity value chain, underscoring the urgency of aligning federal and state efforts in the decentralised power market.
With both the Minister of Power and NERC united in their call, the message was clear: collaboration and harmonisation are indispensable if Nigeria is to achieve improved electricity access and reliability for its citizens.
