Ogun State assembly passes second reading of electricity bill

The Ogun State House of Assembly in Abeokuta advanced a bill on Tuesday aimed at improving electricity generation, transmission, and distribution within the state, as it passed its second reading.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish an electricity market, create key power sector bodies, and enforce consumer rights and obligations. Lawmakers debated the bill during a plenary session led by Speaker Oludaisi Elemide, discussing its potential to transform the state’s energy sector.

Legislators praised the recent decision by the Federal and State Governments and the National Assembly to move electricity regulation from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list. This change grants states more autonomy to manage electricity generation, transmission, and distribution within their territories.

The bill’s proponents argued that the legislation would encourage competition among electricity providers, create a favourable environment for industrial growth, and boost business investment in Ogun State. They also noted that local power generation could resolve more than 50 per cent of the state’s current challenges and reduce rural-to-urban migration.

Speaker Elemide emphasized that the bill would break the monopoly of existing electricity providers, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and help generate revenue without raising tariffs excessively. He noted the importance of enhancing the electricity market and enforcing consumer rights to ensure a balanced energy sector.

Following the session, the bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole House for further legislative review and action.