Jigawa House of Assembly, on Tuesday, passed the Electricity Bill, 2024 to improve power generation and distribution in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this development followed the consideration of a report from the House Committee on Power and Energy presented during the plenary.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee, Muhammad Adamu (APC-Kafin Hausa), said that the executive bill was forwarded to the assembly by Gov. Umar Namadi for consideration and possible passage.
Adamu said that the bill was an offshoot of the devaluation brought about by the fifth alteration to the Nigerian Constitution, where power was removed from the executive legislative list and moved to the concurrent list.
This, he said, had empowered the state houses of assembly to enact laws on power.
The lawmaker stated that the commission had carefully pursued the bill and reviewed its structure as well as the promise it holds for the power sector, infrastructure and the overall economy of the state.
According to him, the passage of the bill will pave way for the establishment of Jigawa Electricity Commission to regulate the state’s electricity market.
Adamu assured that the law would also protect the residents of the state and the investors in the energy sector, having provided for prepaid meters installation and possibility of recouping investors’ funds.
“The law will lead to provision of reliable, affordable and sustainable power essential for development of all sectors of the economy, particularly in rural areas,” he said.
NAN reports that the bill was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers after the Speaker, Haruna Aliyu (APC-Miga), put the motion to vote. (NAN)
