A bill for a law to establish the Adamawa State Electricity Commission for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Adamawa has passed through a second reading on the floor of the House of Assembly.
The bill sponsored by the member representing Shelleng constituency, Hon. Bulus Kantomon Naphthali, was presented on the floor of the house during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by Speaker Bathiya Wesley.
While opening the debate on the bill, its Sponsor, Hon Bulus Kantomon, enumerated several benefits of the bill to the socio-economic growth, providing an enabling environment for investors to drive job creation and promote the development of a competitive electricity market in the state.
He said the bill, if considered and passed into law, will stimulate policy and regulatory measures to generally scale up efficient power generation, transmission and distribution capabilities of the power sector in Adamawa state to achieve a state consumption in Nigeria.
Kantoman, who is the chairman of the House Standing Committee on Public Petition, Public Service and Electoral Matters of the 8th Assembly, further reiterated the importance of electricity to the overall well-being of the citizens, adding that the State will also gain immensely through improved revenue generation.
The sponsor of the bill also explained that the bill would provide a framework for the improvement of access to electricity in rural, unserved, underserved, pre-urban and urban areas through the use of conventional sources and renewable, to also enhance Indigenous capacity in technology for renewable energy technologies a framework for local content in the state.
According to him, the bill will also develop frameworks for the protection of electricity infrastructure, and prescribe effective punitive measures against electricity theft and other offences related to the electricity supply industry.
The bill will also provide for the procedure for the appointment, tenure and removal of commission members.
Contributing separately, the lawmakers noted the merits of the bill, stressing that it would greatly improve the fortunes of the state while also providing employment opportunities for the teeming youths.
Speaking while presiding over the Tuesday session, the Speaker of the 8th Assembly, Rt Hon Bathiya Wesley, noted that with improved electricity, businesses will thrive and improve the economy.
He commended the Sponsor and Co-Sponsors of the bill for diligence before directing for the second reading of the bill.
He thereafter referred the bill to the House Committee on Works, energy, land and Survey to scrutinize and report to the House within two weeks.