Ogun Assembly passes power sector bill

The Ogun State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the bill seeking to improve electricity generation, transmission and distribution within the state.

The bill also seeks to establish an electricity market and key power sector bodies, as well as enforce consumer rights and obligations.

The Deputy Speaker, Mrs Bolanle Ajayi (APC-Yewa South), presented the report of the Committee during plenary in Abeokuta.

Ajayi moved the motion for the adoption of the report, which was seconded by the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye (PDP -Odogbolu).

The Majority Leader, Mr Yusuf Serif (APC-Ado Odo Ota 1), moved the motion for the third reading of the bill and it was seconded by Adeleye.

The lawmakers had during the second reading of the bill on August 28 took turns to debate the desirability of the bill.

Some of them however thanked the federal and state governments, as well as the National Assembly, for moving the issue of electricity from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent legislative list.

They noted that it allowed states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity within their jurisdiction.

The legislators explained that the initiative would assist in promoting healthy competition among electricity operators, create enabling environment for industries and boost business investment.

The lawmakers noted that if the state was able to generate power, over 50 per cent of the challenges facing the people would have been resolved.

They opined that access to power would also help reduce rural-urban migration in the state.