The Federal Government has back-tracked on halting the transfer of electricity regulatory oversight to State Governments.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, revealed the FG’s policy summersault at the two-day stakeholders workshop organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), in Lagos.
The workshop on the implementation of the Electricity Act had in attendance the 36 State Commissioners of Energy and Power.
The Ministers statement comes a few days after he announced plans to halt the transfer of regulatory autonomy to States and conduct a test phase with a few States. The announcement had caused confusion about whether the minister had the power to give such a directive against the Act.
However, at the workshop, Adelabu said the Federal Government would not go against the law. He, however, said the event was to address the potential challenges that might surface while transitioning.
In April, the NERC transferred oversight of the electricity market to three states; Ondo, Ekiti and Enugu.
The Electricity Act obligates NERC to hand over within six months after a State follows the process in the law.
