The Nigeria Independent System Operator (NISO) has wrapped up a public hearing with the Nigerian Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), pressing them over unpaid obligations owed to the Nigerian Electricity Market and its service providers.
The hearing ran from Tuesday, September 1 through September 4, 2026, giving NISO a chance to review the DisCos’ outstanding market obligations and assess proposed payment arrangements meant to resolve balances that have hampered the functioning and growth of the electricity market.
After extensive deliberation, NISO found the payment proposals put forward by several DisCos unacceptable, citing both the scale and the age of the debts involved.
A five member committee chaired by Engr. Dr. Edmund Eje, NISO’s Executive Director of Market Operations, conducted the hearing and voiced concern over the payment frameworks some DisCos proposed for settling their outstanding balances.
The committee pointed out that the Federal Government had already written off roughly 97 per cent of the DisCos’ outstanding obligations covering 2015 through 2020, and said the affected companies now need to move quickly to clear what remains.
NISO said it will proceed to the next stage, which includes applying sanctions available under the Market Rules, while continuing to prioritize constructive engagement, transparency and due process.
The organization said the episode highlights the importance of market discipline, compliance and accountability among participants, along with the need for continued collaboration to strengthen confidence in the market and ensure the long term sustainability of Nigeria’s electricity sector.
