NERC proposes quarterly state-federal meetings to boost power sector coordination
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has proposed quarterly policy meetings with state electricity commissioners to improve coordination and harmonise regulatory frameworks during the ongoing power sector transition. NERC Chairman Dr Musiliu Oseni announced the initiative at a Workshop on Legal, Policy and Regulatory Harmonisation between Federal and State Institutions on the Decentralisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry held on Tuesday, July 13, 2026. He said the decision follows the constitutional amendment and the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023, and will be developed in partnership with the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the African School of Regulation.
The initiative aims to strengthen technical expertise across subnational regulators, although Oseni warned its impact will be limited unless state Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) are adequately staffed. He noted that NERC has already transferred oversight responsibilities to 16 states at varying stages of implementation, and stressed that Nigerians care more about reliable electricity supply than jurisdictional disputes. Effective coordination among generators, transmission networks, traders, regulators, policymakers and end-users is essential to reduce operational friction and unlock the competition and investment the reforms aim to attract.
NERC urged state commissioners to support their SERCs, many of which operate without sufficient staff, and said it is advancing plans to establish a sustainable training programme and centre for state regulators. Stakeholders are encouraged to set aside institutional interests and collaborate to meet the country's power needs. How might better-coordinated state-federal regulation affect the reliability and cost of electricity in your area?