Between April and June 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reported a staggering toll on electricity workers, as 34 individuals tragically lost their lives in the line of duty. This alarming figure highlights the ongoing safety issues facing the electric utility sector in Nigeria. Additionally, 17 other workers sustained injuries amid 64 recorded accidents during this period. The NERC is responsible for ensuring the provision of safe and reliable electricity to consumers, as mandated by Section 34(1)(e) of the Electricity Act 2023. To this end, the commission closely monitored the health and safety performance of the industry and enforced reporting requirements for licensees to promote accountability.
The commission requires that licensed electricity providers submit monthly health and safety reports to sufficiently track their operational safety. In the second quarter of 2024, out of 99 expected submissions, only 91 reports were received. The NERC emphasized the necessity of achieving 100% compliance with these reporting regulations and indicated that sanctions would be applied where necessary. Notably, there was a significant increase in the number of accidents compared to the first quarter, surging by 14.55% from 55 to 63 incidents. Fatalities skyrocketed by an alarming 47.83%, while injuries decreased by 45.16%, reflecting a troubling trend in worker safety that demands urgent attention.
The report also distinguished between different sectors within the electric utility industry. Notably, power-generation companies experienced no casualties during this quarter, while specific Distribution Companies (Discos) reported the highest number of fatalities. The highest casualty rates were recorded at Ibadan with 13 fatalities, followed by Eko (8), Jos (7), and Enugu (6). These figures present a clear pattern where Discos accounted for all recorded casualties in the second quarter of 2024. This mirrors trends from previous quarters where Discos continued to represent the majority of safety issues encountered in Nigeria’s Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), underscoring the necessity for targeted interventions in this area.
The report identified various causes for the accidents, highlighting a need for systemic changes to improve safety protocols. The accidents led to eight casualties from wire snaps, 11 due to unauthorized access, four from vandalism, and ten from unsafe acts or conditions. To address these alarming statistics, the NERC initiated investigations into each reported incident and is committed to enforcing necessary actions against licensees responsible for negligence. Furthermore, the commission continues to monitor existing accident reduction strategies, implementing programs aimed at bolstering health and safety performance throughout NESI.
In June 2024, the NERC held the biannual Health and Safety Managers Meeting, where compliance and regulatory officers from various licensees gathered to discuss their reporting obligations along with broader health and safety issues. The meeting provided a critical platform for evaluating the performance of licensees against health and safety standards. Topics of discussion included compliance scorecards, implementation of key performance indicators, and areas requiring improvement. The NERC is adamant about ensuring all licensees adhere to established performance standards and has made a concerted effort to foster a culture of safety across the industry.
In addition to improving safety protocols, the NERC is also focusing on transparency in the treatment of accident victims’ families through supervision of settlement processes between licensees and victims’ families. This pursuit of transparency aims to ensure fair compensation for those affected by workplace accidents. The report noted the successful conclusion of three compensation negotiations between licensees and the bereaved families in the second quarter of 2024, reflecting the commission’s ongoing commitment to addressing the tragic outcomes of these incidents while fostering a safer work environment for electricity workers across Nigeria.
