By Abdullahi Mohammed
The Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Dr Sam Amadi, has said that the Commission is giving its technical regulation function the needed impetus. Inspection is an important function that clearly defines the work of the regulator .Amadi said this at the opening of a workshop for technical inspectors; whose duty is to use their technical capability to inspect industry facilities and advise the Commission appropriately for better regulation of the sector today in Abuja
He said that ” there is a line between economic and technical regulation. Certain economic regulation would rely on data obtained from technical regulation’’.
Dr Amadi assured of effectiveness within the commission stating that ” the 2001 National Power Policy ascribes the Commission the authority for economic and technical regulations. The Commission approved the appointment of the Inspectors to provide support in inspections, testing, and certification and accident investigations of electric power infrastructure in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, in line with the provision of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act”.
At the workshop, a consultant with the Engineering Division from the Nigeria Infrastructural Advisory Fund, Engineer Bill Slegg pointed out as a necessary aspect of the inspectors, to have the right clothing for inspections for credibility purpose.
He emphasised that there need for collaborative effort to work on a time bounded improvement. There are ten firm of Inspectors appointed on 10TH June, 2014. The highlight of the workshop was a clause by clause deliberation on the draft contract between the Commission and the inspectors, which also serves as the TOR.
