Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has delivered a clear message to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC): prepare for a new era of accountability. As the Osun Electricity Market Regulatory Bill advances toward becoming law—with the accompanying establishment of an Electricity Regulatory Commission—Adeleke cautioned that unsatisfactory service and consumer exploitation will no longer be tolerated.
Describing epilepsy in power supply across Osun as “unacceptable,” Adeleke emphasized that the state—home to Nigeria’s National Transmission Control Centre—should not suffer consistent service failures while still paying for electricity. He criticized practices such as inflated billing, forced transformer purchases, and lack of functional prepaid metering systems, warning that such infractions will be addressed by the newly empowered state regulator.
The upcoming regulatory agency is designed to oversee licensed power generators and distribution operators within Osun, investigate service complaints, and open the sector to off-grid and renewable energy investments. Adeleke pledged that IBEDC must “sit tight” in anticipation of enforcement measures once the commission becomes operational.
The governor has framed the regulatory reform as both economic lifeline and quality-of-life intervention—calling the law “a major tool to deepen and boost the economy” by protecting businesses and households from power disruption and revenue diversion. He praised the collaboration between the state House of Assembly, Ministry of Energy, and stakeholders whose input shaped the bill.
This move builds on earlier engagements: in April 2025, Adeleke personally met with IBEDC’s Managing Director in Ibadan, reiterating that Osun’s chronic power crisis is untenable and that state efforts to diversify energy sources—including renewable microgrids—must now be respected by operators.
A committee under the Governor’s office—comprised of key commissioners and a private-sector energy analyst—has been tasked with accelerating bill passage, tackling debt owed by communities, and devising methods to secure distribution infrastructure. Adeleke insisted that all communities within IBEDC’s franchise area be properly served under new statutory oversight.
In sum, Adeleke’s warning sets the tone for power-sector transformation in Osun State. IBEDC is entering a regulatory environment it can no longer dominate unchecked. With consumer protections enshrined in law and oversight mechanisms in place, the state’s residents expect tangible improvement—and Adeleke has made clear that failure to deliver will carry consequences once his electricity regulator is in place.
Credit: punch news
