Senate to suspend Electricity act amendments

The Senate Committee on Power has agreed to defer the ongoing legislative process of amending the Electricity Act 2023.

The decision aims to give room for wider consultation and consensus-building among key actors across the electricity value chain, following a high-level stakeholder engagement convened by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, on Tuesday.

The suspension of the legislative amendments emerged as a pivotal resolution during the workshop, which was organized to address the deepening implementation of the Electricity Act 2023 and Nigeria’s transition to a decentralized electricity market.

The engagement specifically advanced the resolution of a brewing impasse between the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs).

Announcing the suspension, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, noted that effective reforms require sustained engagement across all levels of government and the power sector.

Speaking, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe described the ongoing transition to a decentralized, multi-market electricity framework as one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s power sector in decades.

He stressed that its success depends entirely on strong collaboration rather than institutional competition, assuring that the Federal Ministry of Power will work closely with all parties to ensure regulatory certainty and attract much-needed investment.

To actively capitalize on the legislative window provided by the suspended amendments, Tegbe announced the immediate establishment of a nine-member inter-agency committee.

Chaired by the Minister himself, the committee features representatives from NERC, SERCs, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

This body is tasked with driving continuous engagement, resolving emerging implementation issues, and recommending practical measures to ensure the seamless operationalization of the Act within a strict four-week timeline.

The high-level workshop drew a robust gathering of industry leaders, including the Special Adviser to the President on Power, the Director General of the BPE, State Commissioners for Energy, and various State Electricity Regulators.

Attendees reaffirmed their commitment to closer collaboration to support the successful implementation of the reforms, aligning with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In closing the event, Tegbe acknowledged that implementation challenges are inevitable but emphasized that they must be resolved collectively without compromising regulatory standards, service quality, or consumer protection.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s dedication to building a modern, investor-friendly electricity market through sustained cooperation between federal and state institutions.