Interrogating the State, Public Policy and the Electricity Power Sector in Nigeria (1999 – 2019)

Abstract

This article discussed the challenges of public policy in the electricity sector in Nigeria. The country has been struggling to generate and distribute it from the middle of 1980s. Due to many reasons that include, population explosion, aging electricity generation and distribution infrastructure, lack of capacity for running public utility firms, corruption, lack of indigenous expertise that could run the firms profitably and lack of political will in by the government, the needs of citizens have not been satisfied. The article is in five parts which include introduction, review of policy reforms in the electricity sector and challenges identified, theoretical framework, findings, conclusion and recommendations. It adopted neo-liberal theory as its theoretical framework. Secondary data were generated and analysed in themes. It argued that if policy makers in Nigeria fail to systematically develop the Nigerian model of neo-liberal policy philosophy, the country will continue to waste time, energy and funds on policies in the electricity sector without commensurate results. It further recommended that the elite and the masses as well as professionals and artisans/craftsmen be involved in generation and implementation of policies in the electricity sector in Nigeria. The government should engage policy analysts as consultants to study critically inputs made by international institutions or bilateral partners in the process of generation, design, implementation and evaluating electricity generation, distribution and consumption model presented to them by foreign partners. Policy formulation mechanism should consider when to automatically roll in or out the state in accordance with the prevailing economic conditions if Nigeria agrees that it has finally settled for neo-liberal economic policies. This will facilitate the emergence of the Nigerian model of neo-liberal economic policy and its attendant positive impact on the needed reform to get affordable and sustainable electric power to the consumer.

Keywords: Neo-Liberalism, Power Policy, Power Sector Reform, Privatisation, Consumption Model