Three South-South states Edo, Bayelsa, and Delta are taking decisive steps to implement Nigeria’s decentralised electricity policy while strengthening local government autonomy, signalling a new phase in subnational governance.
The states have adopted key provisions from the Federal Government’s restructuring of the power sector, which transfers electricity generation and distribution from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list. This change empowers them to create state-regulated electricity markets, license operators, and invest directly in power projects.
Officials also claim that local government councils now enjoy greater financial and administrative independence, though opinions remain divided on the extent of these reforms.
In Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo’s Special Adviser on Media, Bugie Okhuemoi, said the state is leading the implementation of the decentralisation policy in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that the governor recently signed the Edo State Electricity Bill 2025 into law, creating a legal framework for independent electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
The law also established the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission to oversee licensing, monitoring, and compliance, working alongside the newly formed Edo State Electricity Advisory Council, which brings together industry experts, investors, and energy stakeholders.
According to Okhuemoi, these institutions will ensure transparency, attract private investment, and improve service delivery through structured regulation. He added that the state plans to develop independent power projects for residential, commercial, and industrial use, backed by incentives to draw private sector participation.
“Access to reliable electricity is central to economic growth, job creation, innovation, and improved living standards,” Okhuemoi said, adding that Edo is positioning itself as a regional energy hub.
On local government autonomy, Obosa Ogbeide, Chairman of Ikpoba Okha Local Government, stated that all 18 councils in the state currently operate with financial independence, though funds still pass through the state before reaching them.
However, civil society activist Solomon Idiogbe argued that Nigeria’s governance challenges stem from poor policy implementation rather than a lack of reforms. He accused political leaders of using decentralisation and deregulation as political slogans, while retaining control over processes such as local council leadership selection.
“We’ve heard these terms for decades, yet the same political structures manipulate outcomes,” Idiogbe said, warning that without genuine reform, local government autonomy would remain largely symbolic.
Former Edo State Deputy Speaker Maria Oligbi-Edeko described the recent legislative autonomy as a milestone in the state’s democratic development, enabling the House of Assembly to function without undue executive influence. She emphasised that the reform strengthens accountability, transparency, and citizen representation.
“This change empowers lawmakers to act in the public interest and will stand as a democratic legacy for future generations,” she said.