NEMSA seeks judges’ cooperation on enforcement

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has sought the support of judges in enforcing electricity regulations across the country.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the agency said it needed the assistance of the judiciary to ensure compliance with technical standards and regulations in the Nigerian electricity supply industry and allied services.

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) was set up by the NEMSA Act of 2015 (now the Electricity Act of 2023), which gives the organisation the authority to enforce technical standards and regulations, technical inspection, and certification of all types of electrical installations in the power sector to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the use of electricity.

It said, “The enforcement of technical standards and regulations is a vital aspect in managing the development of the electricity sector in any nation as it helps to ensure that all electrical installations used in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) comply with the required technical standards, regulations, and specifications to ensure that such systems can provide safe, reliable, and sustainable electricity supply and also ensure the safety of lives and property.”

According to NEMSA, efforts to enforce its mandate have faced opposition on several occasions, which is due to a lack of sufficient knowledge about the agency and its mandate.

It said that one of the challenges faced by the officers of the agency in enforcing technical standards was a lack of adequate knowledge by relevant stakeholders.

The organisation announced that it would therefore embark on awareness campaigns on its mandates and functions to address the knowledge gap about its role.

According to NEMSA, the Electricity Act, 2023, recently signed by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, requires the House of Assemblies of States to pass their electricity laws and establish their regulatory authorities.

“It is therefore essential to educate and increase the awareness of the stakeholders. This is because the backing and cooperation of stakeholders at the national and subnational levels of government, especially legislators, judges, and state executives, is very important in ensuring that NEMSA’s mandate and functions are effectively and efficiently carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law and existing regulations,” the organisation said.