The Federal Government has warned that power generation companies (Gencos) risk being disconnected from the national grid if they fail to comply with the directive on implementing free governor control (FGC) across all generating units.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) issued the warning in Order No. NERC/2025/094, which took effect on September 1, 2025.
Signed in August by NERC Vice-Chairman Musiliu Oseni and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance Dafe Akpeneye, the order is designed to safeguard the national grid from potential collapses.
According to the directive, any generating unit that remains non-compliant for 90 consecutive days will face total disconnection from the grid.
Explaining the importance of the move, NERC stated that free governor control allows a turbine or generator’s governor to automatically regulate its output in response to grid frequency fluctuations.
“Section 12.6.2 of the Grid Code for the Nigerian Electricity Transmission System requires all generating units to be fitted with fast-acting FGC capable of regulating turbine speed and adjusting power output based on frequency deviation exigencies—i.e., primary control,” the order reads.
The Commission emphasized that compliance is non-negotiable, stressing that failure to implement FGC could destabilize the already fragile national grid.
