The Forum of Commissioners of Power and Energy has expressed concerns about the proposed Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and submitted that it would create a constitutional conflict between the Federal Government and the states.
The forum also said that as electricity consumers are still battling with various bands and their financial implications, the bill, if passed, would add to consumers’ financial burdens.
In a statement issued by the chairman and secretary of the forum, Eka Williams and Omale Omale, Commissioner of Power and Renewable Energy, Cross River and Benue States, noted that the amendment bill, if passed, will further exacerbate the financial burden on the Federal Government and states, undermining efforts to achieve a sustainable and self-financing power sector.
The forum in the statement made available to journalists in Makurdi, Benue State capital, on Thursday said the bill, if passed into law, would also increase the burden on electricity customers and create regulatory conflicts and risks.
The forum further expressed concerns that the bill is capable of undermining the exclusive constitutional jurisdiction of states over electricity distribution within their territories.
According to the forum, the amendment bill is capable of undermining transformational progress in the power sector.
The statement read in parts, “The amendment bill, if passed, will create a constitutional conflict between the Federal Government and states, as well as legal and regulatory conflicts between federal and state regulators, undermining the principle of cooperative federalism and potentially inviting judicial challenges.
“The amendment bill, if passed, will further exacerbate the financial burden on the federal government and the states, undermining efforts to achieve a sustainable and self-financing power sector.
“The imposition of additional financial burden on electricity customers already struggling with high electricity tariffs for Band A service is unacceptable, especially when states are actively pursuing cost-reflective tariffs tied to improved quality of service.
“In addition, the bill specifies mandatory contributions from consumers and market participants to fund the Power Consumer Assistance Fund (PCAF).
“The amendment bill threatens to dismantle the progress and positive reforms initiated by the Electricity Act 2023, which has been widely hailed as a pivotal step towards a more reliable and efficient power sector.
“This untimely amendment risks undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s key policy achievements in the energy sector.”
