KEY POINTS
- Tinubu NERC appointment confirms Musiliu Oseni as chairman.
- Abdullahi Ramat’s nomination was formally withdrawn.
- New board tasked with power sector reforms.
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Musiliu Oseni as chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, formalizing a leadership change at the country’s power sector regulator after weeks of controversy surrounding its reconstitution. The decision follows the Senate’s confirmation of members of the newly reassembled NERC board and effectively withdraws the nomination of Abdullahi Ramat, whose candidacy had stalled in parliament.
The appointment, which takes effect from Dec. 1, 2025, will run for the remainder of Oseni’s statutory 10-year tenure, in line with the Electricity Act of 2023, the presidency said in a statement on Thursday. Oseni had served as acting chairman since August, after the departure of the former chair, Sanusi Garba.
Leadership reset at NERC
The move closes the chapter on Ramat’s brief and contentious nomination. Tinubu had forwarded Ramat’s name to the Senate in August as chairman-designate, but the process quickly ran into opposition. Ramat, a former chairman of Ungogo Local Government Area in Kano State, faced petitions from industry stakeholders and objections from lawmakers during screening.
The controversy deepened when Ramat appeared at NERC’s Abuja headquarters before Senate confirmation, accompanied by political associates and security personnel. The incident triggered public criticism and concern within the electricity sector, prompting him to withdraw from the premises. The Senate Committee on Power later declined to confirm his nomination, citing unresolved petitions.
Allegations by some of Ramat’s supporters that senators were bribed to block his confirmation were rejected by Senate leaders, who described the claims as baseless. With Oseni’s appointment, the presidency has moved to stabilize the commission’s leadership and draw a line under the dispute.
Senate-confirmed board unveiled
Alongside Oseni, Tinubu confirmed Dr. Yusuf Ali as vice chairman of NERC. Ali, first appointed as a commissioner in February 2022, assumed the vice chair role on Dec. 1 and will serve until the end of his current term.
The reconstituted board also includes Nathan Shatti, Dafe Akpeneye, and Aisha Mahmud, all returning for second terms. Dr. Chidi Ike remains on the commission in his first term. Dr. Fouad Animashaun joins the board for a first term beginning in December 2025. He most recently served as executive commissioner and chief executive officer of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
In the statement, Tinubu tasked the new board with deepening reforms in Nigeria’s power sector and ensuring full implementation of the Electricity Act. The law, passed in 2023, devolved regulatory powers to states while reshaping oversight of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
The leadership reset at NERC comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with persistent electricity shortages, tariff disputes, and efforts to attract private investment into the grid. Industry analysts say regulatory stability will be critical as the country pushes ahead with market reforms.
