A Katsina-based public affairs commentator, Engr. Kabiru el-Hussain Rumah, has appealed to the Katsina State Government to urgently establish a State Electricity Regulatory Commission in line with ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s power sector.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Rumah called on the administration of Dikko Umaru Radda to take advantage of the constitutional and legal provisions that now empower states to regulate electricity generation, transmission, and distribution within their territories.
He noted that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has already devolved such regulatory powers to at least 15 states, many of which have established their own State Electricity Regulatory Commissions to oversee electricity operations locally.
According to him, the decentralisation of the power sector stems from constitutional amendments signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2023, as well as the Electricity (Amendment) Act signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in February 2024.
Rumah stressed that Katsina State risks missing out on the opportunities presented by these reforms if it fails to act promptly. He argued that establishing a state regulatory body would enable Katsina to exercise greater control over electricity providers operating within the state, including the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, with the potential to improve power supply and affordability.
He therefore urged the state government to prioritise the enactment of a Katsina State Electricity Regulatory Commission law, describing it as a critical step toward strengthening energy governance, boosting economic development, and improving the quality of life for residents.
