Sixteen State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERCs) in Nigeria have raised their voice against the Electricity Act Amendment Bill 2026, saying that the act might reverse the reforms that were carried out recently, thereby making Nigeria’s electricity supply sector go back into decades-old failures.
As per the memorandum filed before the Senate Committee on Power, the SERCs said that the bill aimed at taking back powers that have already been granted to states under the Electricity Act 2023 and Constitution (Amendment).
The joint memorandum was signed by SERCs representing sixteen states of the country such as Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Ondo and Enugu.
As per the SERCs, the bill will enable the government to take control of the areas related to electricity which come under state jurisdiction and thereby limit the jurisdictional capacity of the state governments and regulators.
It was contended by them that the National Assembly has no authority to confer or rescind the powers of the states since the powers vested with the states are conferred by the Constitution itself.
The regulators further highlighted that the amendment may hinder foreign investments into the power industry. It was pointed out that more than one billion dollars of investments made pursuant to the Electricity Act 2023 may stand jeopardized due to amendments proposed.
In addition, the SERCs criticized the provisions regarding mini-grid licensing, electricity tariffs, and market regulation, stressing that the regulation of electricity produced and supplied in a state must be left to the state.
Recognizing the importance of collaboration between the federal and state regulators, they urged legislators to focus on coordination, not re-centralization.
The regulators have requested the Senate to shelve provisions that may pose a threat to state regulatory authorities, investor confidence, and the ongoing reform process in Nigeria’s power industry.
