- Adelabu asserts the irrevocable authority of the Electricity Act.
- NERC workshop in Lagos tackles state autonomy transition hurdles.
- NERC shifts market oversight; states must comply within six months.
Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu addressed concerns over state regulatory autonomy at a two-day stakeholder’s workshop organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Lagos. Energy and power commissioners from all 36 states attended.
Adelabu’s remarks followed his recent announcement to halt the transfer of regulatory autonomy to states, opting for a test phase with selected states. This confused the minister’s authority to issue directives potentially contradicting the Act.
At the workshop, Adelabu emphasised the government’s adherence to the law. “Granting regulatory autonomy to states is a provision of the new Act, and no one person can go against it,” he said. “It’s in the law, and no law-abiding officer will oppose it. It must be respected.”
He clarified that the workshop aimed to address challenges in the transition process. In April, NERC transferred electricity market oversight to three states: Ondo, Ekiti, and Enugu. The Electricity Act mandates that NERC grant regulatory autonomy within six months after a state complies with the procedures.
Adelabu assured that the federal government would follow the law, seeking to dispel doubts and ensure smooth implementation.