Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Friday, signed into law the State Electricity Regulatory Commission Bill 2024.
Mr Makinde, signing the bill in Ibadan, said it was to give the state the opportunity to develop its own roadmap to sustainable electricity.
He said, “This law will enable Oyo state to generate, transmit and distribute electricity within the state.
“With the decentralisation of electricity generation, transmission and distribution, it has become obvious that Nigerians can access dividends of democracy if federalism is practised as it should be and more powers devolved to the states.
“Amendments of the constitution like this is what we mean when we advocate for fiscal federalism.
“In years to come, as we work towards energy sufficiency, our people can hold state governments accountable on the issue of electricity supply”.
Earlier, the state House of Assembly deputy speaker, Mohammed Fadeyi, said that signing the bill into law would make it the first time the state would come up with an independent electricity project.
Government functionaries that witnessed the occasion include the deputy gov., Bayo Lawal; secretary to the state government, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo; and chief of staff to the governor, Segun Ogunwuyi.
The head of service, Olubunmi Oni, and commissioner for energy, Temilolu Ashamu, were also present.
