The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Power Sector Recovery Operation (PSRO) Secretariat with support from the World Bank Group organized a one-day communication and messaging workshop on October 20th, 2021. The workshop focused on developing strategic and tactical messaging for the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) public communications campaign to the Nigerian public.

The event which was held at the Envoy Hotel in Abuja had in attendance fifty communication representatives from NERC, the Generation Companies (GenCos), Distribution Companies (DisCos), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), power sector Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the World Bank. The workshop is a continuation of the physical/virtual edition held on September 30, 2021, at NERC headquarters in Abuja. These engagements with power sector communication representatives are part of the PSRP communication strategy aimed at fostering cross-sector collaboration on power sector communications.

Dafe Akpeneye – Commissioner, NERC

The event started with a welcome address by Commissioner Dafe Akpeneye, Commissioner of Legal, Licensing and Compliance, NERC. Commissioner Dafe in his remark, highlighted the workshop objectives, stating that one of the major problems of the sector is lack of effective communication. He added that communication is very important and it would be more productive to agree on what would be communicated and how it will be communicated, hence the focus of the workshop. He also reminded the participants that the electricity industry is critical to the Nigerian government and has the greatest potential for productivity in the country. Finally, he encouraged participants to collaborate and use the workshop to determine what customers expect and how the government, TCN, GenCos, and DisCos can meet those expectations through the adoption of a roadmap.

The PSRP Communication Strategy and message presentations by Bankole Ebisemju of Aries Concept were followed by an interactive brainstorming session was moderated by Michael Faloseyi and Mary Anavhe of NERC, as well as Belije Madu of the PSRO Secretariat. During the session, participants discussed the public campaign’s messaging priorities and after many deliberations, four messaging priorities were highlighted:

• Efforts geared towards improving electricity supply
• Customer’s attitude and behaviour
• Efforts geared towards metering customers
• Rationale and benefits of appropriate tariff, available bands, and tariff adjustment

It was agreed that strategic communication was key and communication representatives must endeavor to tailor messages according to the need of their customers in their different regions.

Participants pledged to improve their communication with the developed messages serving as guides. They also emphasized the need for Chief Executive Officers to ensure that communication is supported by actions in order to satisfy their customers. Two representatives were selected to represent the DisCos and GenCos in the PSRP Communications Committee.