By Gloia Akudoro

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) will on Monday 27th November, 2023 in Abuja organize the 3rd Edition of its Annual Roundtable for the Legislature, Judiciary and other Stakeholders on the enforcement of technical standards and regulations in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry and Allied services

The roundtable would offer the Agency opportunity to enlighten the key government officials and other relevant stakeholders on the mandate of the Agency in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA)  was established by the NEMSA Act of 2015 (now the Electricity Act of 2023) which confers on the Agency the power to enforce technical standards and regulations, technical inspection, and certification of all categories of electrical installation in the power industry and Nigeria at large to ensure safety of lives and property in the use of electricity.

The enforcement of technical standards and regulations is a very critical and important aspect in managing the growth of the electricity industry in any nation as it helps to ensure that all electrical installations deployed in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) meet required technical standards, regulations and specifications to ensure that such systems are capable of delivering safe, reliable and sustainable electricity supply as well as guarantee safety of lives and property.

Overtime, NEMSA’s attempts to enforce its mandate has been met with resistance on several occasions, which is attributable to lack of adequate knowledge about the Agency and its mandate. Part of the challenges encountered by the officers of the Agency on enforcement of technical standards, includes lack of sufficient knowledge by relevant stakeholders. This is usually portrayed in two forms, to wit: ignorance of the core mandate/functions of the Agency, and resistance to the Agency’s enforcement mandate.

Hence, the need for NEMSA to organize enlightenment campaigns on its mandates and functions so as to curb the knowledge gap about its role.

According to NEMSA, the recently assented Electricity Act, 2023 by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu mandates the House of Assemblies of States to enact their own electricity laws and establish their own Regulatory Authorities. It is imperative therefore, to sensitize and enhance the awareness of the stakeholders. This is because the support and cooperation of stakeholders at the National and Sub-National Tiers of Government, particularly Legislators, Judiciary and State Executives is of utmost importance in ensuring that NEMSA’s mandate/functions are effectively and efficiently protected and delivered in line with the provisions of the law and extant regulations.

Dignitaries expected at the event which would be declared open by the Hon Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu include Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Power, H.E. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, members of the national and state assemblies’ committees on power , High Court judges, representatives of State Governments, and other stakeholders in the electricity industry in Nigeria are expected to attend at the Workshop.
NEMSA to organize workshop on mandate for legislatures, judiciary officers and other stakeholders 

This year’s round-table is the 3rd in the series with the first one held in 2021