The All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum has threatened to institute legal action against the Senate should it proceed with the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act 2023, arguing that the changes would undermine states’ constitutional powers to regulate electricity markets.
In a chat with our correspondent, the National Coordinator of the forum, Adeola Samuel, described the proposed amendment as an attempt to reverse the decentralisation of Nigeria’s electricity sector introduced by the Electricity Act signed into law on March 17, 2023.
According to him, the existing law has enabled about 15 states to establish their own electricity markets in line with the provisions of the Act, warning that any attempt to restore regulatory oversight to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission would erode the autonomy granted to the states.
“The attempt being made by the National Assembly to amend for the fourth time the Electricity Act 2023 is nothing but an attempt to rubbish the much-appreciated decentralisation of the electricity market and make it a multifaceted market, which is already taking shape with about 15 states adopting and beginning implementation of Section 63 of the Act as presently provided,” he said.
