Power sector reform: NERC Chairman advocates harmony, urges actors to drop ego for Nigerians

Orisemeke Benjamin

The Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Musiliu O. Oseni, has urged power sector stakeholders to put aside personal interests and prioritize policy coordination to prevent the decentralization of the electricity market from failing.

Speaking at a pivotal workshop on legal, policy, and regulatory harmonization between federal and state institutions, Oseni emphasized that while the Electricity Act 2023 has successfully transferred regulatory oversight to 16 states, transitional frictions threaten to erode these gains.

He compared the Nigerian power sector to a complex puzzle of generators, networks, policymakers, and consumers that must seamlessly fit together.

“When we lack coordination and harmonisation, we cause confusion, lose public confidence, and worse still, we fail to provide reliable power to Nigerians,” Oseni warned.

The NERC Chairman pointed out that the average citizen is indifferent to jurisdictional disputes between federal and state entities, focusing solely on the end product.

“Permit me to state clearly here today: Nigerians do not really care about who regulates what or who is responsible for policy making, but they strongly care about availability and reliability of supply,” Oseni stated. “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.”

Addressing recent controversies surrounding the Forum of the Nigerian Electricity Regulators (FONER), Oseni dismissed allegations that the body is a backdoor tool for NERC to dominate state regulators. Noting that he only serves as an ex-officio chairman without a vote unless there is a tie, he remarked, “I am still rattling my head on how one person can have control over 36 others.”

To ensure the success of State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs), Oseni revealed NERC is partnering with the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the African School of Regulation to launch a sustainable training program. However, he cautioned that many SERCs are currently critically understaffed, urging state commissioners to provide immediate staffing support.