FORUM VOWS COURT ACTION OVER PROPOSED ELECTRICITY ACT CHANGES

A coalition of civil society groups and electricity consumer forums has vowed to challenge proposed amendments to the Electricity Act in court, describing some provisions as detrimental to consumers and the goal of reliable power supply.

The group, under the banner of the Electricity Consumers Protection Forum, expressed strong reservations about clauses that could lead to higher tariffs without corresponding improvements in service quality and transparency in tariff-setting processes. “We will not stand by while changes that burden ordinary Nigerians are pushed through without adequate consultation,” the forum’s convener, Mr. Chinedu Okafor, said.

The forum has petitioned the National Assembly and relevant regulators, demanding comprehensive stakeholder engagement and impact assessments before any amendments are passed. They warned that hasty changes could undermine recent gains in the power sector reform.

The proposed changes to the Electricity Act are part of ongoing efforts to improve the legal framework for the privatised power industry, but consumer groups insist that consumer protection must remain paramount.

Legal experts expect the matter to spark intense debate as the National Assembly considers the bill.