The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has proposed holding quarterly policy meetings with state commissioners to strengthen coordination and harmonise regulatory frameworks as Nigeria advances the decentralisation of its electricity sector.
The initiative is aimed at improving collaboration between federal and state institutions, ensuring effective policy implementation, and supporting ongoing reforms under the Electricity Act 2023.
Speaking at the Workshop on Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between Federal and State Institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) on Tuesday, NERC Chairman Dr. Musiliu Oseni said stronger cooperation is essential to the success of the country’s electricity reforms.
Oseni explained that the proposed quarterly meetings would provide a platform for regular engagement between federal and state regulators, helping to resolve policy differences and ensure greater consistency in regulatory decisions.
He, however, warned that while the Electricity Act 2023 is expected to promote competition and attract investment into the power sector, the transition could face significant challenges if not carefully managed.
Describing the electricity industry as a “complex puzzle” involving power generators, transmission operators, electricity traders, regulators, policymakers and consumers, Oseni stressed that effective policy coordination and regulatory harmonisation are necessary to eliminate operational bottlenecks.
He noted that Nigerians are primarily concerned about access to reliable electricity rather than the division of regulatory responsibilities between federal and state authorities.
According to him, stakeholders must put institutional interests aside and work collaboratively to deliver improved electricity supply across the country.
Oseni disclosed that the proposal follows the constitutional amendment and the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023, which allows greater state participation in electricity regulation.
He revealed that the planned initiative would be developed in collaboration with the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African School of Regulation to strengthen the technical capacity of state electricity regulators.
The NERC chairman, however, cautioned that training programmes alone would not achieve the desired impact if State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) remain understaffed.
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According to him, the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry has entered a new phase of reform that allows increased state-level regulatory oversight, with NERC already transferring regulatory responsibilities to 16 states at different stages of implementation.
Oseni urged state governments and policy commissioners to provide adequate staffing and institutional support for their respective electricity regulatory commissions.
He emphasised that effective human resource capacity is critical to ensuring proper regulatory oversight and warned that the success of the ongoing reforms could be undermined if state regulatory agencies lack qualified personnel.
The NERC chairman added that capacity development remains central to building a resilient electricity regulatory framework, revealing that the Commission is advancing plans to establish a sustainable training programme and a dedicated training centre for state regulators.
