The Senate has passed the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 for second reading in a bid to rescue Nigeria’s failing power sector from imminent collapse.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) sponsored the amendment, which aims to overhaul the 2023 Electricity Act by closing regulatory gaps. During the debate, some lawmakers proposed the introduction of capital punishment for those who vandalise electricity infrastructure.
Leading the discussion, Senator Abaribe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Power, warned that the power sector is crumbling due to inefficiencies and financial mismanagement. He revealed that the Federal Government owes over ₦4 trillion within the sector.
He criticised the current law for its weak penalties, poor implementation, and lack of clarity on vital issues such as funding, labour rights in essential services, and the role of state governments following recent constitutional amendments.
“Electricity is an essential service. No one should be allowed to hold the nation to ransom under the guise of industrial action. We must eliminate ambiguities and ensure the law is enforceable,” Abaribe asserted.
He also condemned some electricity distribution companies for refusing to pay for power supplied, further worsening the sector’s instability.
Supporting the bill, Senator Adamu Aliero expressed dismay at the continued federal expenditure in a privatised industry. He criticised the government’s financial commitments to the privatised generation and distribution companies (GenCos and DisCos), and called for the death penalty for those who sabotage national assets.
“We privatised power, yet trillions of naira are still being spent on behalf of private firms. The rising wave of vandalism must be curbed. Vandals targeting national infrastructure deserve capital punishment,” said Aliero.
The bill proposes a series of reforms, including:
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Criminalising vandalism of electricity infrastructure;
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Clarifying the transfer of regulatory authority from NERC to state governments;
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Improving the functionality of the Electricity Consumer Assistance Fund;
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Strengthening penalties and regulatory oversight.
The Senate has referred the bill to the Committee on Power, which is expected to report back within six weeks.