NERC urges Presidency to intervene in NEMSA, EMS crisis

By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA: The crisis rocking the power sector over the establishment of the Electricity Management Service Limited, EMS, and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Authority, NEMSA, has taken a new dimension with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, calling on the Presidency to intervene.

The NERC, which had already endorsed the creation of NEMSA as a legitimate Federal Government institute, however queried the creation ofthe Electricity Management Service. The Chairman, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, speaking on the vexed issue in Abuja, requested the Federal Government to advise it on the relevance of the creation of another electricity regulatory body, which according to him is a duplication of the functions of the Commission.

Embattled Amadi told newsmen that, “The Act is clear on what we should do and that is what we are doing. A new government is in power and they have to advise us on what to do. We are an independent commission under government. So at the end of the day, I expect that government will look at the law and take a position.”

The NERC however ignored the existence of EMS to appoint 14 new inspectors for the technical sector, which is an overlap with the roles of the EMS. But Amadiargued that even if the new government eventually allow EMS to function, it would not hinder NERC from performing its technical and commercial regulatory roles as enshrined in the Act.

He noted that not only did the Commission write a letter to the immediate past President to oppose the creation of EMS; it also opposed it vehemently in the National Assembly. Now that a new government is in power, he said the Commission will adhere to whatever directive it receives on the issue.

According to him, “It is on record that NERC opposed it at the National Assembly in a heated debate. “We wrote to the President, and we stated clearly and I believe till today, there is no justification for that. But it is a law, so we will wait for the new government to tell us what to do. Whatever the government tells us, we will do