President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the launch of a nationwide training programme for 5,000 young Nigerians as meter installers and technicians under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), in a move aimed at tackling the country’s metering deficit and creating employment opportunities.
The initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms in the power sector to accelerate the deployment of electricity meters, reduce estimated billing, and improve service delivery to electricity consumers across Nigeria.
According to the President, the programme is designed to equip participants with practical technical skills in the installation, maintenance, and management of electricity meters, while preparing them for employment within the country’s growing energy sector.
The training will be implemented in collaboration with the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, and other key stakeholders in the electricity industry.
President Tinubu directed that the programme should commence within 30 days, emphasizing that it aligns with his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, skills development, and economic growth.
Under the programme, applicants are expected to possess at least a secondary school education, while a dedicated quota will also be reserved for members of the National Youth Service Corps> (NYSC), providing graduates with an opportunity to acquire specialized technical skills.
The Presidential Metering Initiative is expected to play a significant role in addressing Nigeria’s long-standing metering gap, which has left millions of electricity consumers on estimated billing. By increasing the number of trained technicians, the government hopes to accelerate the installation of smart meters nationwide, improve billing transparency, and enhance revenue collection within the electricity sector.
