By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Minister of Power have called for greater harmonisation of regulatory and operational activities in Nigeria’s electricity market to improve power supply and accelerate reforms across the sector.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop held in Abuja on July 14, 2026, the Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, stressed the need for stronger collaboration between federal and state institutions following the decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
The workshop, themed “Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between Federal and State Institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI),” focused on strengthening coordination among regulators and industry operators to ensure more reliable electricity for Nigerians.
Chairman of NERC, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, endorsed the minister’s call for harmony, noting that consumers are primarily concerned with reliable electricity rather than which level of government regulates the sector.
According to Oseni, the success of the emerging multi-tier electricity market depends on sustained dialogue, stronger institutional cooperation and a shared commitment to delivering improved service to electricity consumers.
“Nigerians do not really care about who regulates what or who is responsible for policymaking. They care about the availability and reliability of electricity supply,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to set aside institutional rivalries and personal interests in favour of collaboration that would expand access to electricity and improve service delivery nationwide.
Oseni also proposed more frequent policy engagements between the Federal Ministry of Power and state commissioners responsible for electricity, recommending reforms to the existing National Council on Power (NACOP) to facilitate regular coordination during the ongoing transition to a decentralised electricity market.
He said strengthening policy alignment between federal and state governments would enhance implementation, reduce regulatory conflicts and support the overall transformation of Nigeria’s power sector.
The minister maintained that achieving regulatory and operational harmony remains essential to increasing electricity access and driving national economic development, describing stable power supply as a critical foundation for sustainable growth.