States’ Power Commissioners have formally rejected the proposed 2025 Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, warning that it risks undermining recent reforms and placing unsustainable financial burdens on electricity consumers and state governments.
The strong objections were issued through a statement by the Forum of Commissioners of Power and Energy in Nigeria (FOCPEN), which represents state-level regulators and authorities charged with electricity market oversight.
The forum also warned that more than N5 trillion in unpaid electricity subsidies is crippling the nation’s power sector and threatening Nigeria’s energy reforms.
The group is also urging the National Assembly to abandon the proposed Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which they say would worsen both the financial and regulatory crisis in the sector.
In the petition signed by the commissioner of Power and Renewable Energy, Cross River State/chairman, FOCPEN, by Prince Eka Williams, and commissioner of Power, Renewable Energy and Transport, Benue State/ secretary, FOCPEN, Omale Omale, the forum expressed alarm that the new bill could force states to surrender their hard-won regulatory autonomy, increase investor uncertainty, and revive a damaging subsidy regime just as Nigeria is trying to phase out unsustainable energy subsidies.
