Appointment based on merit, AKSG defends Electricity Regulatory Commission members
The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed an open letter questioning the composition of the Akwa Ibom State Electricity Regulatory Commission (AKSERC), insisting that all appointments into the body were made strictly on merit and professional competence.
The Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, said the claims were misleading and based on a poor understanding of the law and the qualifications of commission members.
Umanah was responding to an open letter addressed to Governor Umo Eno by Mr Collins Ette Jackson, which raised concerns about the technical and statutory competence of AKSERC members.
He said the establishment of the commission was a key part of the state’s electricity reform agenda following the Electricity Act 2023 and the Akwa Ibom State Electricity Law 2025, adding that the reforms were aimed at strengthening regulation and improving power supply.
According to him, the structure of AKSERC reflects a multidisciplinary regulatory model, where policy direction is provided by commissioners while technical work is handled by specialists in engineering, economics, law and energy regulation.
He listed members of the commission as experienced professionals, including its Chairperson, Ms Arit Uya, whom he described as a seasoned regulatory expert with over two decades of experience in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
He also referenced Dr Kalu Ukoha as a leading electricity reform expert with experience across several African countries, alongside other members with backgrounds in energy economics, public administration and engineering.
“Regulatory bodies are not designed to be filled by one profession alone. The Electricity Act clearly anticipates a mix of expertise, and that is exactly what AKSERC represents. Any claim otherwise is not supported by facts or law,” Umanah added.
