The bill seeking to improve electricity generation, transmission and distribution within Ogun State, on Tuesday scaled second reading on the floor of the House of Assembly.
The bill also seeks to establish an electricity market and key power sector bodies, enforce consumer rights and obligations and for connected purposes.
The bill titled: “H.B.No.017/OG/2024 – Ogun State Power Sector Law”, passed through a second reading as the State lawmakers took turns to debate the desirability of the bill at the plenary presided over by Speaker Oludaisi Elemide at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The second reading process commenced through a motion moved by Hon. Babatunde Tella, seconded by Hon. Damilare Bello and supported by the whole house through a unanimous voice vote.
Opening debate on the second reading of the bill, Hon. Tella said that when passed by the Assembly and assented to by Governor Dapo Abiodun, the bill would assist in improving electricity generation, transmission and distribution for the benefit of the people, pointing out that the rural areas would become integrated and thus enjoy all deserving amenities.
Corroborating the sponsor, others including Majority Leader Yusuf Sheriff, as well as Honourables Adebisi Oyedele, Yusuf Amosun and Minority Leader Lukman Adeleye, thanked the Federal and the State governments as well as the National Assembly for moving the issue of electricity from the exclusive list to the concurrent legislative list, which now allows the states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity within their jurisdiction.
They noted that the initiative would assist in promoting healthy competition amongst electricity operators, create an enabling environment for industries, and boost the business investments of Small and Medium Enterprises in the state.
The lawmakers noted that if the State was able to generate power, over 50% of the challenges facing the people would have been resolved, stating that access to power would also help reduce rural-urban migration in the State.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elemide stated that the bill, when operational, would improve electricity generation, transmission and distribution within the State; emphasising that it would enhance the electricity market and key power sector bodies, as well as enforce the consumer rights and obligations while breaking the monopoly of the electricity providers.
He added that it would enhance synergy among stakeholders in generating revenue without unnecessarily increasing tariff, while charging the bill to the Committee of Whole House for further legislative actions.
The Speaker later announced the stakeholders’ forum on the State Power Sector Bill for Thursday, 5th September 2024 commencing at 10.00 am prompt.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has invited the Chairman and members of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), to appear before the State lawmakers on the 3rd of September 2024 for a proper explanation of its activities and preparation for the coming Local government elections concerning the payment of fees by political parties.
The speaker invited him in response to the presentation of the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye, who raised the issue of payment of fees by political parties as rolled out by the State Independent Electoral Commission preparatory to the conduct of upcoming local government elections.
