Stakeholders Want Inclusion Of Engineers In Nigeria Electricity Act Implementation

As part of measures to ensure effective implementation of the Nigeria Electricity Act, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and other stakeholders in the power sector have called for the active involvement of engineers in driving the process.
The stakeholders noted that the exclusion of engineers from making input in the drafting of the Electricity Act was a disincentive to the development of the technical operational component to stimulate a competitive national electricity market.
Speaking at the 2023 Content Development Workshop held in Port Harcourt, under the theme; “A Technical Analysis of the Electricity Act 2023, pros, cons and way forward”, the stakeholders called for the review of the technical components of Electricity Regulation Act 2023 to be reflective of the input of engineers who have the technological capabilities to drive the process.
Delivering his keynote address, the guest speaker, Engineer Eddy Ebruke, faulted the focus on legal rather than technical component in the act, stating that the Electricity Act, if properly implemented, would dymistify the monopoly of federal control and avail the states the opportunity to generate power to address the electricity needs of the country.
On his part, veteran engineer and pioneer member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Prof. Oyapele Beredugo, said it was a fundamental error for the Electricity Act to be exclusively drafted by lawyers.
He said: “For the moment, we seem to be on the side, and other people are taking over our duties and responsibilities. It is quite necessary that if Nigeria must develop, we need engineers to be in the driving seat in key aspects of the economy dealing with engineering and engineering practice.
“There is considerable need for a review of the new Act. The technical aspect of the electricity supply industry has not been properly articulated in the new Act, and we expect that after this workshop and subsequent discussions, these issues will be thrashed out with competent engineers, not lawyers driving the Act.”
Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Simbi Wabote, in his message, explained that the Act was conceived as an improved package to address inadequacies of the precursor.
He said, “The liberalisation of the power sector will attract private capital to operate competitively and advance its goals of enhanced economic performance as well as appreciable energy per capita consumption.”
In his remark, the Content Committee Chairman for the 2023 workshop, Nnanna Okaegbu, harped on the need for engineers to be proactive in practical initiatives and innovations towards commercialisation of their inventions within the framework of supportive government laws, policies and guidelines.
Chairman, NSE Port Harcourt branch, Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke, added that the workshop was aimed at enlightening the public on the need for engineers to be at the vanguard of economic development, especially the technological and innovative areas, stating: “Engineers are meant to be driving the economic process.”
Earlier, the National President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari-Wudil, had commended the society for the theme of this year’s content workshop, pointing out that the Electricity Act would consolidate laws relating to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) with the aim of reforming the electricity sector.

By: Taneh Beemene