Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stated that Nigerian lawmakers are in the National Assembly not to pursue personal gain but to make sacrifices for the benefit of future generations.

Akpabio made this known during Wednesday’s plenary session while contributing to the debate on the general principles of a bill seeking to amend the Electricity Act, 2023. The bill was sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Power.

“Many believe that we are in the Senate to enrich ourselves,” Akpabio said. “But the truth is, we are here to make sacrifices on behalf of generations yet to come.”

He emphasized the critical importance of electricity in driving Nigeria’s industrial development, noting that sustainable economic growth cannot be achieved without a reliable power supply.

If passed and enacted, the proposed amendment to the Electricity Act will, among other objectives, provide a clearer legal framework for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to delegate intrastate electricity matters to state governments.

Following its successful second reading, Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Power for further legislative work. The committee is expected to present its report in six weeks.

In his lead debate, Senator Abaribe explained that the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was first read on June 25, 2025, aims to address several pressing challenges that have emerged since the implementation of the 2023 Act.

According to him, the bill intends to:

Enhance coordination between federal and state governments to prevent legal conflicts;

Strengthen financing mechanisms amid a growing debt crisis in the power sector;

Criminalize vandalism of critical power infrastructure to curb recurrent sabotage;

Improve industrial relations by balancing labour rights within the context of essential services, in line with international labour standards;

Clarify the process for transferring regulatory authority over intrastate electricity issues from NERC to state governments, especially in relation to the national grid;

Define a clear framework for operationalizing the Power Consumer Assistance Fund, to ensure subsidies reach essential services and vulnerable consumers, moving away from the current unsustainable subsidy model;

Guide host community engagement across the electricity value chain to ensure inclusive development;

Resolve ambiguities in the principal Act to promote clearer interpretation and smoother implementation; and

Strengthen institutional and legal structures governing the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

The Senate leadership reaffirmed its commitment to reforming the power sector in a way that benefits all Nigerians and fosters long-term national development.