Managing Director, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Engr. Aliyu Tahir, yesterday appealed to the House of Representatives to stop state electricity boards from carrying out technical enforcement in the agency’s areas of specialisation.
He made the call to the members of the House Committee on Power, who were at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja for their oversight function.
Recall that owing to the 2023 Electricity Act, which empowers states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity, Enugu Imo, Ondo, and Ekiti States have gotten approval for regulation of power activities in their states.
But the NEMSA boss said when it comes to inspection, technical enforcement, especially interconnections between states with different frequencies it will be difficult or impossible to accomplish.
Tahir who is also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, noted that there will be conflicting technical standards and codes.
NEMSA boss said “We also want the committee to look at the possible infringement in the NEMSA authority by the states agencies. Some of the states agencies government have already established their agencies that has to do with inspection, testing and certification of electrical installations.
“ So we are already interfacing with them. Honourable committee, once we allow that, different standards and specifications, technical codes will come up.
“And if we have that, to connect between one state and the other you find it difficult to do. For example, if the frequencies are not the same there is no way you can have that connection. So, I want to appeal to the committee to also look at that.”
Tahir sought the support of the committee for the establishment of meter recertification fund.
He sought the lawmakers support for the establishment of Electricity Offenses Tribunal for the dispensation of justice in the industry.
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He revealed that the agency is still occupying a rented accommodation in Abuja.
He added that NEMSA has requested for any of the recovered property for its office.
He described inadequate funding as one of the challenges of the agency.
The Managing Director also noted that NEMSA is in shortage of technical staff since it has not gotten approval for fresh employment.
Responding, the committee chairman, Hon. Victor Nwokolo said it is better to have a faulty law than no law at all.
He urged the legal department of the different agencies to sort of the grey areas in the law for the committee’s action.
Nwokolo said the law only made provision for the punishment of electricity theft without prescribing any punishment for the buyers of the stolen assets.
He alluded to the vandals of power installation in Kebbi State that cost the nation billion Naira losses, adding that the three year imprisonment prescribed in the Act is a part on the backends