Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has appointed acting board members for the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (OYSERC) as part of efforts to accelerate the opening of the state’s electricity market.

The governor named the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Dahud Kehinde Shangodoyin, as Acting Chairman of the commission.

Other members of the acting board include Ayanniyi Taiwo as Acting Secretary; Solomon Oyekunle as Acting Technical Member; Abiodun Adedoja as Acting Strategy Member; and Omolara Omoremi as Acting Legal Member.

In a statement issued by Shangodoyin, the appointments were described as a key step towards the full operationalisation of OYSERC and the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023 and the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission Law 2024. The laws empower the state to regulate its intrastate electricity market within Nigeria’s evolving dual-tier regulatory system.

Shangodoyin explained that the acting appointments are meant to drive the institutional take-off of the commission while foundational regulatory structures are established. These include licensing frameworks, compliance mechanisms, tariff oversight systems, consumer protection structures and internal governance processes. He added that substantive appointments will be made once the proposed Oyo State Electricity Market Bill is formally passed into law.

According to him, the commission’s oversight responsibilities will cover licensing of power generation and distribution companies, embedded generation, captive power and mini-grid projects operating within the state. It will also regulate tariffs and service bands, address consumer complaints, enforce service standards and promote the development of a local electricity market.

He noted that decentralising regulatory oversight would enable the state to respond more quickly to electricity service gaps, strengthen accountability among operators and attract private sector investment in local power solutions.

Shangodoyin added that OYSERC has already begun initial operations, including receiving consumer petitions, engaging distribution companies and other stakeholders, resolving selected electricity disputes and aligning its work with the Oyo State Electricity Priority Plan & Implementation Roadmap (2026–2031).

He said the commission aims to encourage embedded and distributed generation, boost private sector participation, improve service delivery and expand electricity infrastructure across the state.

Meanwhile, the statement also disclosed that OYSERC held a high-level technical meeting with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja on 12 February to ensure regulatory coordination and a smooth transition to the new electricity market framework.

Discussions at the meeting focused on jurisdictional issues under the Electricity Act, licensing and regulatory procedures, tariff oversight, consumer protection mechanisms, compliance monitoring, digital regulatory platforms and institutional capacity development.

Both regulators reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation in line with Nigeria’s electricity sector reforms, laying the foundation for structured collaboration between federal and state regulatory authorities.