The Ogun State House of Assembly has passed the Ogun State Power Sector Law (H.B.No.017/OG/2024) on second reading. The bill aims to improve electricity generation, transmission, and distribution within the state, establish an electricity market, and enforce consumer rights and obligations.
During the plenary session presided over by Speaker Oludaisi Elemide, lawmakers debated the bill’s desirability, with Hon. Babatunde Tella moving the motion for second reading, seconded by Hon. Damilare Bello, and supported by a unanimous voice vote.
Lawmakers, including the Majority Leader Yusuf Sheriff and Honourables Adebisi Oyedele, Yusuf Amosun, and Minority Leader Lukman Adeleye, praised the federal and state governments for moving electricity generation, transmission, and distribution from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list.
They noted that the initiative would promote healthy competition among electricity operators, create an enabling environment for industries, and boost business investments for Small and Medium Enterprises in the state.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elemide, stated that the bill would improve electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, enhance the electricity market, and enforce consumer rights and obligations.
The bill has been referred to the Committee of Whole House for further legislative actions, with a stakeholders’ forum scheduled for September 5, 2024.
In his remarks, Hon. Tella emphasized that the bill would assist in improving electricity generation, transmission, and distribution for the benefit of the people, particularly in rural areas, which would become integrated and enjoy all deserving amenities.
The lawmakers also 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.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has invited the Chairman and members of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) to appear before the State lawmakers on September 3, 2024, to explain its activities and preparation for the upcoming local government elections, particularly regarding payment of fees by political parties.
The Speaker issued the invitation 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.
