Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Musiliu Oseni, has given his support to the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe’s call for harmony in the multi-tier electricity market.
The minister, at a recent workshop in Abuja, themed “Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between Federal and State Institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI)”, called for harmonisation of regulatory and operational activities in the Nigerian Electricity Market (NEM) which he said will ensure that power sector players work towards the common goal of increasing access to electricity supply for Nigerians as electricity remains the bedrock for the development of any nation.
According to Dr Oseni, Nigerians are less concerned about which institution regulates the sector or formulates policy but more interested in having reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply while urging all actors within the emerging multi-tier electricity market to sustain dialogue, strengthen cooperation and remain focused on delivering improved outcomes for electricity consumers.
Oseni said, “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. It is on this basis I wish to 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.
“We must create a strategic platform where regulatory and policy dialogues on the issues relating to the power sector take place. The honourable minister may wish to institute periodic policy meetings with policy commissioners from the states.”
“The platform through which this could take place already exists, the National Council on Power (NACOP) but there is a need to reform the structure of engagements.
“Relatively more frequent and more focused policy meetings with state commissioners may be adopted as against the annual and somewhat large gathering adopted in the past.
“These will ensure frequent touchpoints between the federal and the state governments on policy implementation and coordination, especially during this transition phase,” the NERC chairman added.
