The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says it supports the call by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, that only the harmonisation of regulatory and operational frameworks by all stakeholders can guarantee effectiveness in the Nigerian Electricity Market (NEM).
The Minister stated this at the recent workshop in Abuja on the theme: ‘Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between Federal and State Institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI)’.
The Minister stated that this framework would ensure power sector players worked towards the onerous goal of increasing access to electricity supply for Nigerians, as electricity remains the bedrock for the development of any nation.
Speaking in support of the call, the Chairman of NERC, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, in his opening address, the Minister’s call was the only way to achieve harmony in the multi-tier electricity market in the country.
Dr Oseni said that Nigerians were less concerned about which institution regulates the sector, or formulates policy, but were more interested in having reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply.
The NERC Chairman urged all actors and stakeholders within the emerging multi-tier electricity market to sustain dialogue, strengthen cooperation and remain focused on delivering improved outcomes for electricity consumers.
“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”, he said.
He challenged all stakeholders to create a strategic platform where regulatory and policy dialogues on the issues relating to the power sector take place, adding that the minister may wish to institute periodic policy meetings with policy commissioners from the states to harmonise issues affecting their effective operations.
Although the platform through which this could take place -the National Council on Power (NACOP) – already exists, he said there was a need to reform the structure of engagements for effectiveness.
He said 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, he pointed out, would ensure that frequent touchpoints between the federal and the state governments on policy implementation and coordination, especially during this transition phase, were amicably resolved.
