President Bola Tinubu has nominated new leadership for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), appointing a 39-year-old electrical engineer as the agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, “President Bola Tinubu has nominated Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as the new Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).”
The nominee brings significant academic and professional credentials to the role. “Engr Ramat, 39, is an electrical engineer and administrator, with a PhD in Strategic Management, among other qualifications,” Onanuga noted in the announcement.
The President also filled two key commissioner positions within NERC to strengthen the regulatory body’s leadership structure.
“President Tinubu also nominated two commissioners for the NERC,” the statement revealed. “They are Mr Abubakar Yusuf, Commissioner of Consumer Affairs and Dr Fouad Olayinka Animashun, Commissioner of Finance and Management Services.”
While the appointments represent a significant step in reconstituting NERC’s leadership, they remain subject to legislative approval. “All nominations are subject to Senate confirmation,” Onanuga emphasised.
Recognising the critical nature of electricity regulation in Nigeria, President Tinubu has ensured continuity of leadership at the agency.
“However, to avoid a leadership vacuum in the critical regulatory agency, the President directed that Engr Ramat assume office in acting capacity pending his screening by the Senate, as stipulated by the law,” the presidential aide explained.
This interim arrangement ensures that NERC continues to function effectively while the formal confirmation process proceeds through the National Assembly.
President Tinubu has set clear expectations for the new appointees, emphasising their role in advancing his administration’s power sector objectives.
“President Tinubu urged the new appointees to use their knowledge and experience to discharge their functions and work assiduously to advance the administration’s power sector vision,” Onanuga stated.
The appointments come at a crucial time for Nigeria’s electricity sector, as the country continues efforts to improve power generation, transmission, and distribution to meet growing energy demands and support economic development.
NERC plays a vital role in regulating Nigeria’s electricity market, ensuring fair pricing, protecting consumer interests, and overseeing the operations of electricity companies across the country.
