States resist Senate’s bid to amend electricity law
A dispute has erupted between state electricity regulators and the National Assembly over proposed changes to Nigeria’s electricity laws. Regulators from 16 states have criticised the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, warning it could undermine reforms achieved through the Electricity Act 2023. In a letter dated May 26, 2026, they argued that the bill threatens state autonomy and investor confidence. The ongoing debate highlights the tension between federal and state control in Nigeria’s evolving power sector.
TLDR
- State electricity regulators from 16 states submitted a memorandum to the Senate Committee on Power, opposing the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill 2026.
- The regulators’ letter, dated May 26, 2026, claims the bill could reverse the decentralisation achieved by the Electricity Act 2023.
- They argue that the proposed amendments would restore extensive federal oversight and weaken state authority over electricity matters.
- Contentious issues include federal control over the national grid, restrictions on state participation in the wholesale market, and expanded powers for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
- The regulators warn that the changes could disrupt investment and undermine constitutional reforms that empowered states to manage their own electricity sectors.
