By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Association for Public Policy Analysis (APAA) and other stakeholders have called for increased funding and improved legislation to bolster safety standards in the electricity sector.

Mr Princewill Okorie, the National President of APAA, made the call at the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Safety Strategic Workshop in Abuja.

The workshop was organised by APAA in collaboration with the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) and the Licensed Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN).

Okorie emphasised the urgent need for funding to enable electrical technicians acquire better training and obtain the mandatory Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) electrical installation competency certificates.

He said that the lack of funding for electrical technicians to obtain NEMSA electrical installation competency certificate was creating room for the increase in the number of unqualified electrical installers operating in the country, against NEMSA Act of 2015 which criminalise such practice.

“The effort of NEMSA in enforcing this law is hampered by the challenges of funding.

“It is our opinion that the best way to handle this issue is for the National Assembly to make appropriations for empowerment of electrical technicians to enable them acquire better training and obtain NEMSA electrical installation competency certificates.

“This will empower them to become legally recognised electrical installation entrepreneurs, train other youths and carry out installation in safe and standard manner.

“Our research has shown that there are about 10 electrical technicians practicing in electrical installation in the 8,809 electoral wards in the country without NEMSA electrical installation competency certificate.

“This means that we have minimum of 88,090 electrical installers in the country without competency certificate. This portrays danger and should be addressed,” he said

Okorie also called for the strengthened procurement processes for electricity contracts, stressing the need for transparency, professionalism, and a focus on capacity.

He frowned at the current practice of awarding contracts based on political or family connections, which he said leads to the use of substandard materials and unqualified personnel.

He also decried upfront contract payments, which he noted violate Section 176(m) of the Electricity Act 2023.

The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Samuel Dangana, described compliance with safety standards as a non-negotiable element for the safety of lives, infrastructure, and investor confidence.

Dangana, who is also the Chief Operating Officer of Meter and Instruments Ltd, noted that insufficient funding and the misappropriation of funds have crippled the ability to enforce safety measures.

Dangana proposed a multi-stakeholder coalition, urging government to prioritise budgetary allocations for safety, private sector players to co-invest in training and compliance systems, and civil society and the media to demand accountability.

He also suggested a dedicated, transparent safety enforcement fund embedded in the national electricity regulatory framework and the use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to co-fund safety audits.

Dangana also called for investment in digital tools for real-time monitoring, while proposing a ring-fenced budget from the market (DISCO/GENCO) for staff training, safety equipment, and public awareness campaigns.

He emphasised the need for procurement agencies to ensure that procurement approvals comply with performance-based disbursement, where funds were released only when safety Key Performance Index were met.

Dangana also emphasised the need for regulatory and oversight bodies to work together to tighten enforcement of safety codes, publicly penalise violators and offer financial incentives for compliance.

The National President of AICAN, Ekere Etim, called for electrification contracts to be awarded only to NEMSA-certified contractors, not civil servants or companies using quacks.

The National President of LECAN, Mr Jackson Nwosu, urged relevant institutions, CSOs, development partners, and the media to join the advocacy for transparency and accountability in the funding and implementation of electricity projects.

At the end of the workshop, a National Electricity Safety Advocacy Support Committee with members from various stakeholders was set up. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza