Osun govt set to implement new electricity law

Osun Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has mandated the state Ministry of Energy to speedily draw up an implementation plan for the Electricity Market law, to allow the state to establish an Electricity Regulatory Commission on its own.

The governor, who gave the forward marching while presiding over the State Executive Council meeting in Osogbo on Friday night, said this was in accordance with the recently passed Electricity Market law.

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The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, who made this known in a statement in Osogbo on Saturday, quoted the governor as having told the concerned authorities to seek supportive assistance from the National Electricity Regulatory Commission.

It will be recalled that the State House of Assembly, in July this year, passed the Electricity Bill, which allows the state to establish an Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Alimi, who further maintained that key policies across sectors were reviewed and fresh marching orders handed to ministries and agencies, disclosed that, “private firms can also be licensed to generate off-grid or mini-grid power, promoting investment and renewable energy options.

According to him, ” this law allows the state regulator to issue licenses, set rules, and monitor electricity producers, mini-grid operators, distributors, and other stakeholders within the state'”.

While urging cabinet members not to relent in the delivery of democratic dividends, the Governor said, “Despite the challenges facing us, we are fulfilling our obligations, especially in critical areas of governance.

The Governor said the Ministry of Works is working hard to deliver on schedule the ongoing infrastructure projects, noting that the administration is speeding up the execution of the Ilesa dualization, the Ile Ife flyover bridge, the Oke Fia/Lameco flyover bridges, and the Iwo dualization, among others.

On the Ministry of Science and Innovations, the Governor urged the fast tracking of implementation plans and timelines for the two major policies recently endorsed, namely the State ICT policy and the State Tech Innovation policy.

While commending the ministry on the recently unveiled Imole Wifi Initiative, he charged the Ministry of Science and Tech to develop a state road map for the applications of Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain technology.

For the Ministry of Agriculture, the Governor requested urgent actions for the full implementation of the Statewide Youth Agropreneurship project, which was launched at Oriade, directing that the ministry should dust its plan and ensure the programme commences across all local governments in the state.

On sports development, Governor Adeleke calls for urgent actions on the bills for the establishment of Osun Sports Commission, the Police Trust Fund, and Osun Sports Development Fund, directing a closer interface with the State Assembly to fast-track the processing of the bills.

The Governor spoke further at the meeting: “Ahead of the resolution of the local government crisis, we must, as a government, encourage members of ALGON to create a development agenda for their respective local governments.

“Each local government must have a developmental document which will flow from the state development agenda. The Chief of Staff with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning should interface with ALGON to make this initiative a reality.

“We must review the workings of the Imole Youth Corps for quality assurance. Posted imole corps members must be monitored to deliver on the goals of the scheme.

“Council members should take note of our huge success in the climate change sector. Our many initiatives are gaining attention from other states, the Federal Government, the International Agencies, and groups. Our ultimate goal is to generate grants and donor support from several willing donor groups,” he submitted.