States Clash With Senate Over Electricity Reform Bill
State electricity regulators across Nigeria have pushed back against a proposed amendment to the Electricity Act, warning that it could reverse powers already handed to states under the 2023 electricity reform law.
The group accused the National Assembly of attempting to recentralise control of the power sector through the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill 2026.
The position was contained in a joint memorandum submitted to the Senate Committee on Power and signed by regulators from 16 states, including Lagos, Enugu, Oyo, Ogun, Edo, Imo and others.
They argued that the proposed changes could weaken the progress made since states began building their own electricity markets under the current law.
The regulators said the bill introduces provisions that would expand federal control through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission over areas they believe now fall within state jurisdiction.
They also warned that provisions on tariffs, licensing, wholesale markets and grid operations could disrupt ongoing investments already made by states and private partners.
They further insisted that electricity powers granted to states stem directly from the Constitution, not from federal legislation, and therefore cannot be altered by an amendment bill.
The dispute now sets up a wider debate between federal and state authorities over how Nigeria’s decentralised electricity system should operate going forward.
