The Senate Committee on Power has clarified that the 2023 Electricity Act (2023 EA) does not grant states the authority to enforce technical electricity standards.
In a goodwill message delivered at the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) 4th Edition of The Stakeholders Roundtable for the Enforcement of Technical Standards, Regulations, and Mandates in Abuja, Committee Chairman Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe urged for an amendment to the 2023 Act.
He emphasised that the law should explicitly prevent states from enforcing technical standards.
Abaribe stressed the need for federal law to supersede state law in this area, warning that a clear legal framework is necessary to prevent individuals from arbitrarily setting technical standards.
He aaid: “In the new law that they passed in 2023, there is nowhere in that law that gives the states the right to enforce standards of our electrical equipment done by NEMSA.
“So, I have discussed this with the legal unit and decided to amend the 2023 law to make it explicit that for safety, Nigeria must have one standard rather than multiple standards.
“We have to ensure that people do not mischievously set up their own standards. We will make sure we make it very explicit and as you know, a federal law, supercedes the state law.”
The committee chairman said it is imperative to note that this roundtable is been organized by NEMSA at a time when use of substandard electrical equipment is considered one of the major culprits of frequent grid collapse in Nigeria.
According to him, it has been widely reported in the Nigerian media recently that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has discovered through its investigation that use of substandard electrical equipment and materials have become a major unwholesome practice by contractors in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
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He further said with the decentralization of electricity regulatory responsibilities ushered in by the enactment of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No.17) Act and the Electricity Act, 2023, the challenge of enforcing electrical standards and safety at the sub national levels of Government may even become more daunting for NEMSA.
Abaribe said given the enormity of NEMSA’s mandate in enforcing electrical standards and ensuring safety in the NESI, the regulator, contractors, operators/licensees, customers and other critical stakeholders needs to support NEMSA to deliver on this mandate hence the justification for this multi-stakeholder roundtable.
Speaking, NEMSA Managing Director, Engr Aliyu Tahir said the event is one of the critical steps in the collective journey towards ensuring the safety, reliability, and sustainability of Nigeria’s electricity supply industry.
He said the critical roles played by the legislative and judicial arms of government in shaping and upholding regulatory frameworks cannot be overstated.
Tahir said it is the mandate of the agency to ensure the safety of lives and property within the grid and off-grid networks and electrical installations is assured.
He said it also mandated to ensure that
electricity meters and instruments are of the right type, quality, class and accuracy for proper accountability of energy produced, delivered, supplied and utilized by the consumers.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu said the importance of the workshop cannot be over emphasized.
He was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mamudah Mamman, who was also represented by Mrs Ochanya Ofoma.
He said the roundtable represents a crucial step towards deepening awareness, fostering compliance with approved standards and regulations in the deployment of solar mini-grid systems across the country.
According to him, “by addressing critical issues such as the quality of solar components, proper installation practices, and safety measures, we are not only advancing the reliability and sustainability of our energy systems but also safeguarding the lives and investments of all stakeholders in the power sector.”