The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has thrown its weight behind the Minister of Power’s call for the harmonisation of regulatory and operational activities in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe made the call at a recent workshop on the decentralisation of Nigeria’s electricity market in Abuja, stating that harmonisation would ensure power sector players work towards the goal of increasing access to electricity supply for Nigerians, as electricity remains the bedrock for the development of any nation.
The workshop, convened by the Minister on 14th July 2026, had the theme: ‘Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between Federal and State Institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI)’.
In his opening address, the Chairman of NERC, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, joined the Minister in calling for harmony in the multi-tier electricity market.
Dr Oseni stated that Nigerians are less concerned about which institution regulates the sector or formulates policy and are more interested in having reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply.
The NERC Chairman urged all actors within the emerging multi-tier electricity market to sustain dialogue, strengthen cooperation and remain focused on delivering improved outcomes for electricity consumers.
“Nigerians do not really care about who regulates what or who is responsible for policymaking, but they strongly care about the availability and reliability of supply. It does not matter to them who drives the sector, be it state or federal, but who actually meets their supply needs. It is on this basis I wish to urge all actors in the room to reflect, drop our ego and personal interests, embrace dialogue and let us all work together to meet the yearnings of Nigerians,” Oseni said.
He added: “We must create a strategic platform where regulatory and policy dialogues on the issues relating to the power sector take place. The honourable minister may wish to institute periodic policy meetings with policy commissioners from the states.”
According to him, “the platform through which this could take place already exists, the National Council on Power (NACOP) but there is a need to reform the structure of engagements.
He suggested that relatively more frequent and more focused policy meetings with state commissioners may be adopted as against the annual and somewhat large gathering adopted in the past.
Oseni explained that this approach would ensure frequent touchpoints between the federal and the state governments on policy implementation and coordination, especially during this transition phase.
