The Senate has approved the electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 through second reading in a move to rescue the country’s ailing power sector from looming collapse.
Sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), the amendment seeks to overhaul the 2023 Electricity Act by addressing regulatory gaps as some lawmakers propose capital punishment for vandals.
Leading the debate, Senator Abaribe, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Power, warned that the country’s electricity industry is buckling under the weight of inefficiencies and financial mismanagement as the Federal Government is currently indebted to the tune of over ₦4 trillion in the power sector.
He noted that the current law contains minimal penalties for offenders, has not been fully operationalised, and lacks clarity on key regulatory provisions, especially regarding funding, labour rights in essential services and the role of state governments following recent constitutional reforms.