NERC CHAIRMAN DESIGNATE, ABDULLAHI GARBA RAMAT RESUMES OFFICE WITHOUT SENATE CONFIRMATION

Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat
Chairman/CEO Designate, NERC 

"All nominations are subject to Senate confirmation." Presidency

"The commission's acting chairman will continue to hold his position until the confirmation of the new chairman-designate."

Stakeholders in the power sector in the nation's capital Abuja on Friday expressed deep concerns following the resumption of the newly appointed Chairman/Chief Executive Officer designate of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC, Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat, whose confirmation from the Senate, remains pending.

A revised statement from the Presidency as signed by the Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), read: 

STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE (Re-issued)

PRESIDENT TINUBU NOMINATES  CEO, TWO COMMISSIONERS FOR NERC

President Bola Tinubu has nominated  Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as the new Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Engr Ramat, 39, is an electrical engineer and administrator, with a PhD in Strategic Management, among other qualifications.

President Tinubu also nominated two commissioners for the NERC. 

They are Mr Abubakar Yusuf, Commissioner of Consumer  Affairs and Dr Fouad Olayinka Animashun, Commissioner of Finance and Management Services. 

All nominations are subject to Senate confirmation.

The commission's acting chairman will continue to hold his position until the confirmation of the new chairman-designate. 

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information and Strategy)

August 7, 2025.

Concerned stakeholders in the sector are therefore, querying the rationale behind the dismissal of the statement from the Presidency by Engr. Ramat who resumed at NERC headquarters on Friday, with a retinue of his political supporters. 

Speaking to journalists after a reception by the Vice Chairman, Musiliu Oseni and other NERC commissioners which was followed by a brief handover session, Engr Ramat expressed his gratitude to Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity and promised to work towards improving the power sector.

"We thank Mr. President for giving us such a wonderful opportunity. This is a new environment for us, and we are here to learn. We will review all relevant documents and processes to better understand the system before taking action,” he said.

“We know change won’t happen overnight, but with collective effort, we can enhance the efficiency of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. We are aware of the challenges Nigerians face, and it will not be business as usual. Distribution and generation companies must do the right things.”

The question many are asking is why discard due process, as regulatory appointments such as that of the NERC chairman are subject to Senate confirmation under Nigerian law. The premature resumption, despite the retracted directive, has raised questions regarding procedural compliance.

Observers within the sector are however, awaiting the position of the Presidency whose directive has been flouted.