States Gain Ground in Climate and Energy Space as RMAFC, CAARS Push for Local Action
By Patience Ikpeme
Nigeria’s push toward clean energy and climate justice took a new turn on Wednesday as the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) threw its weight behind constitutional reforms allowing state governments to play a bigger role in electricity generation and climate funding.
At the First African Conference on Climate Justice held in Abuja, RMAFC said the transfer of electricity from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list represents more than just a legal shift — it is a critical tool for empowering local governments to deliver results on energy access, development, and environmental resilience.
The Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, who was represented by Hon. Ismail Mohammed Agaka, Federal Commissioner for Kwara State, said that the reform opens the door for subnational actors to secure international climate funds and implement community-driven solutions.
According to a statement issued by RMAFC’s Head of Information and PR, Maryam Umar Yusuf, the event marked the first major regional forum where climate justice, energy reform, and fiscal collaboration were discussed in one space — with the shared aim of localising climate action.
“Climate finance is no longer the business of national governments alone,” Dr. Shehu noted. “With this reform, states can not only produce power but also tap into global funding pools meant to assist developing countries with energy transition and climate adaptation.”
The conference was organised in partnership with the Center for African-American Research Studies (CAARS) and brought together researchers, policymakers, and civil society representatives to develop strategies that are tailored to African realities.
In his keynote speech, Prof. Nnamdi Nwaodu, Director General of CAARS, challenged participants to move beyond advocacy and develop financial and governance models that directly support local communities.
“We can no longer sit at the edge of the global table,” Prof. Nwaodu said. “Africa contributes the least to global emissions but bears the heaviest burden. Our solutions must be fair, local, and urgent.”
Participants at the conference included academics like Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, a former Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, who presented a paper on climate governance, adaptation, and resilience in African countries.
Civil society organisations and youth climate advocates also took the stage during a special panel session, where they explored how climate funds can be better targeted at the grassroots level — where climate change is already disrupting livelihoods.
The consensus among attendees was clear: local governments must no longer wait for centralised responses. With new legal backing and growing global attention on climate justice, Nigeria’s states now have a pathway to take charge of their own energy future and lead from the front in the climate conversation.
