The Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Hon. Justice Babatunde Adeniran Adejumo, OFR (Rtd), has lauded the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for its sustained commitment to capacity-building programmes for judges on policies, regulations and reforms in the power sector, saying the initiative has significantly enhanced the resolution of electricity-related disputes.
Justice Adejumo made the commendation on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the NJI management to the headquarters of NERC, where he reaffirmed the Institute’s readiness to deepen collaboration with the Commission to ensure informed and effective adjudication of power sector litigations.
According to him, continuous training and engagement are critical to equipping judicial officers with the requisite knowledge needed to handle the technical and regulatory complexities of electricity sector cases.
“At the NJI, we are always there to partner with you on capacity building. We seek to deepen this collaboration so that it yields tangible results by ensuring that the courts are well-guided in resolving litigations within the power sector,” the NJI Administrator said.
The NJI delegation was received by the Chairman of NERC, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, alongside the Vice Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Ali; Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Mr. Dafe Akpeneye; and other senior management staff of the Commission.
Dr. Oseni, in his remarks, reaffirmed NERC’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the NJI through regular engagements and targeted training programmes designed to equip judges with in-depth understanding of electricity market operations and regulatory frameworks.
He noted that a well-informed judiciary remains central to the effective implementation of power sector reforms and the speedy resolution of disputes that could otherwise hinder sector growth.
Also speaking, Mr. Akpeneye described the visit as a significant step toward deepening the long-standing relationship between the two institutions.
He highlighted the positive impact of NERC’s annual seminars for judges, stressing that improved knowledge of power sector-specific issues has translated into more efficient litigation processes.
Mr. Akpeneye further disclosed that a Practice Direction on electricity-related matters would soon be gazetted through the NJI platform and its linkages with the Federal High Court.
He explained that the move is expected to enhance efficiency, consistency and predictability in the adjudication of power sector disputes nationwide.
The visit underscored the shared recognition by both institutions of the judiciary’s critical role in ensuring stability, investor confidence and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s electricity sector.