The National President of the Electricity Consumers Protection Advocacy Centre, ECPAC, Princewill Okorie, has criticized the exclusion of electricity consumer groups and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, from the Federal Government committee established to oversee the decentralization of Nigeria’s electricity sector and the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Abuja organized by ECPAC and the Association for Public Policy Analysis, APPA, Okorie described the omission as unfair and detrimental to electricity consumers. He argued that the committee is dominated by government agencies, regulators, electricity generation and distribution companies, and private investors, while excluding the very consumers who constitute the demand side of the electricity market.

He maintained that the exclusion undermines the principle of fairness contained in the Electricity Act 2023, which requires a balanced regulatory framework for consumers, licensees, and investors. The ECPAC President also alleged that electricity distribution companies continue to engage in practices that violate consumers’ rights, including unlawful billing, arbitrary disconnections, delayed repair of faulty infrastructure, and other actions he described as electricity crimes.

In addition, Okorie called on the Federal Government, the Minister of Power, and the National Assembly to prioritize measures aimed at preventing electricity-related offences and strengthening consumer protection rather than pursuing immediate amendments to the Electricity Act 2023. He warned that premature amendments could undermine investor confidence and leave consumers more vulnerable to exploitation.

He further urged state electricity regulators to operate independently without undue interference, stressing that any future review of the Electricity Act should focus on enhancing consumer rights, improving regulatory accountability, and ensuring strict enforcement of existing laws and customer protection regulations.