The (NERC) appointment early assumption of office by Abdullahi Ramat, the newly nominated Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has sparked heated debate among stakeholders in the country’s power sector. Ramat’s decision to take charge of the commission before the statutory approval of the Nigerian Senate has raised concerns over legality, procedure, and the stability of the nation’s electricity regulatory framework.
President Bola Tinubu nominated Ramat on August 8 as the replacement for Sanusi Garba, the immediate past chairman, who was removed despite having almost four years left in his five-year tenure that began in December 2020. Ramat, a former chairman of the Ungogo Local Government Area in Kano State and an electrical engineer with a PhD in strategic management, was formally introduced through a statement issued by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Controversy set in after images circulated online showing the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, presenting a letter of appointment to Ramat even before the Senate had considered his nomination. At the time, NERC’s vice chairman, Musiliu Oseni, was already acting as chairman. The confusion was compounded by two conflicting press statements from the presidency. The first announcement directed Ramat and two other newly appointed commissioners to assume office immediately in an acting capacity to prevent a leadership vacuum. However, in a revised statement, Onanuga clarified that the appointees must await Senate confirmation, while Oseni should continue as acting chairman until then.
Despite the clarification, Ramat proceeded to the NERC headquarters in Abuja on August 8, accompanied by political allies and security operatives, including a uniformed military officer, to formally take over from Oseni in a handover ceremony. His action, seen by many as defiance of due process, has drawn criticism from power sector stakeholders, who warn that bypassing established legal procedures undermines confidence in the regulatory agency.
During the ceremony, Ramat pledged to work toward stabilizing Nigeria’s fragile electricity supply industry. He emphasized the need for professionalism, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders to tackle challenges in power generation, transmission, and distribution. “We know change won’t happen overnight, but with collective effort, we can enhance the efficiency of the sector. Distribution and generation companies must do the right things,” he told journalists. He also promised to review all handover documents thoroughly before making key decisions.
Still, the decision has unsettled industry players. Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, Adetayo Adegbemle, described Ramat’s controversial assumption of office as damaging to governance and investor confidence. “The installation of Abdullahi Ramat as NERC chairman has sent shockwaves through the power sector, revealing deep fractures in governance and threatening to shatter fragile investor confidence,” he said.
For many stakeholders, the issue is not whether the president has the authority to appoint a chairman, but whether such appointments should adhere strictly to legal requirements. They argue that in a sector as sensitive as electricity regulation, adherence to the law is critical to maintaining stability and investor trust.
