Kunle Kalejaye
17 March 2013, Lagos – To ensure that the Nigerian electricity industry gives priority to indigenous operators and workers, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC is set to roll out regulation on national content.
The regulation, which is billed to be released by the third quarter of 2013, will stipulate guidelines to ensure Nigerians are given top priority in the areas of project execution, employment, training and technology transfer, among others.
The regulation according to NERC in a document obtained by Vanguard is necessitated by the need to better position the electricity industry at this critical stage of its development, drawing valuable lessons from the local content initiatives of other sectors in Nigeria.
“There will be a need for skilled manpower and the regulator has the responsibility of ensuring the delivery of manpower needs” – said the Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Enforcement, Mr. Steven Andzenge.
The Commissioner, Market, Competition and Rates, Mr. Eyo Ekpo, also said: “I believe strongly that we should do everything possible to avoid the pitfalls experienced in the Oil & Gas, and Telecommunications sectors.
It would be recalled that President Jonathan on April 2010, signed into law the Local Content Act.
