By Kamsi Anayo
President Bola Tinubu has signed the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, into law.
The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on July 27, 2023, and the Senate on Nov. 14, 2023, was sponsored by Hon. Babajimi Benson, who represents Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos state.
The Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, seeks to address the development and environmental concerns of host communities, and sets aside five pe rcent of the actual annual operating expenditures of power generating companies (GENCOs) from the preceding year for the development of their respective host communities.
“The Bill further provides that the funds set aside for the development of host communities will be received, managed, and administered for infrastructure development in the host communities by a reputable Trustee/Manager to be jointly appointed by the respective GENCO and their host community”, Ngelale said.