ABUJA – A bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Authority (NEMSA) on Tuesday passed through its second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to carry out the functions of enforcement of technical standards and regulations, as well as technical inspection in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.
It also seeks to enforce technical standards in testing and certification of electrical installations, electricity meters and instruments.
This is to ensure the efficient production and delivery of safe, reliable and sustainable electric power supply in the country.
The bill, if passed, would also guarantee safety of lives and property in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.
Leading debate on the general principle of the bill, Rep. Patrick Ikhariale (PDP-Edo), said that the bill, if passed, would tackle the issue of electricity supply in the country.
He said that the essence of the proposed legislation was to bring about an authority that would be “highly” involved in the technical role of the agency.
The lawmaker said that the bill would also strengthen standards in the area of professional services which no other agency could do.
Ikhariale said that the establishment of the agency would also provide employment opportunity for Nigerians.
“This bill, my colleagues, is very germane and has the interest of the people at heart,’’ he said.
He said that the bill would also ensure that students of electrical engineering had a place in the Nigeria economy and contribute to national development.
He urged the house to support the bill so that a body would be solely responsible for the enforcement of technical standards and regulation in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.
In their various contributions to the debate, Rep. Leo Ogor (PDP-Delta), Rep. Aminu Shagari (APC-Sokoto), Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (PDP-Abia), agreed that the bill was important to Nigerians.
They said that the issue of safe electricity could not be over-emphasised.
Rep. Sekonte Davis (PDP-Rivers) said the issue of electricity regulation was important.
The bill, thereafter, scaled the second reading while the Deputy Speaker, Rep Emeka Ihedioha, referred it to the Committee on Power for more legislative input.
Similarly, the house passed for second reading a bill for an Act to regulate the Profession of Forestry in Nigeria.
The bill sponsored by Rep. Ifeoluwa Arowodoge (APC-Ekiti), seeks to regulate the activities of foresters in the country.
The bill was referred to the Committee on Environment and Agriculture for more legislative action. (NAN)
