The recent decision of the newly nominated Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Abdullahi Ramat, to assume office before securing the constitutionally required approval of the Senate has sparked heated controversy within Nigeria’s power sector.
Stakeholders across the electricity supply industry have expressed alarm over what they describe as a “hasty and unconstitutional takeover,” warning that the move risks eroding investor confidence and undermining the credibility of the country’s apex power regulator.
President Bola Tinubu nominated Dr. Abdullahi Ramat, a former chairman of Ungogo Local Government Area in Kano State, on August 8 as the replacement for Sanusi Garba, who was relieved of his position with four years still left in his tenure.
The announcement was made through the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Shortly after the nomination, conflicting press statements from the presidency added to the confusion.
The first directed Ramat to assume office in an acting capacity to prevent a leadership vacuum.
However, a reissued statement clarified that all nominees, including Ramat, must await Senate confirmation, with Vice Chairman Musiliu Oseni to continue as Acting Chairman in the interim.
Despite this clarification, Ramat, flanked by political supporters and security personnel, proceeded to the Abuja headquarters of NERC on the same day to take over formally.
Videos of his arrival, which included armed escorts and even a man in military uniform, quickly circulated online, further fuelling the controversy.
Civil society groups, consumer advocates, and energy experts have faulted the development, describing it as a breach of the NERC Act (2005) and the Electricity Act (2023).
Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, Adetayo Adegbemle, said the development amounted to “a constitutional crisis unfolding in real time.”
“Ramat’s dramatic arrival at NERC headquarters, despite lacking Senate confirmation and in the face of a clarified presidential directive, blatantly violates the law.
This act undermines NERC’s independence and threatens to destabilise a sector already battling liquidity challenges and investor distrust,” Adegbemle said.
He added that international partners and investors in the power sector demand regulatory independence and due process before committing capital, stressing that the incident risks casting Nigeria’s power industry as a “politically toxic” environment for investment.
Similarly, the Utilities Consumers Rights Advocacy Initiative of Nigeria has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation, describing Ramat’s assumption of office as “illegal.”
The group warned that any decisions or regulatory directives made under his contested leadership could be challenged in court, creating legal uncertainty in an already fragile sector.
Although Ramat holds a PhD in Strategic Management and has experience as a local government chairman, critics argue that his lack of direct power sector expertise raises doubts about his capacity to steer NERC at such a critical time.
A stakeholder who spoke anonymously noted that past NERC chairmen were individuals with extensive backgrounds in energy, engineering, or law.
“This is not the right time for NESI to have a student regulator,” he said. “We need someone with hands-on industry experience, not political patronage.”
Others, however, acknowledge Ramat’s academic qualifications and his promises to prioritise transparency, improve electricity distribution, and compel operators to serve consumers better.
His statement urging Distribution Companies (DisCos) and Generation Companies (GenCos) to “do the right thing” has resonated with frustrated Nigerians who face daily electricity shortages and high tariffs.
Analysts insist that restoring confidence in the sector requires swift corrective steps.
They recommend that President Tinubu publicly clarify Ramat’s status as a nominee pending Senate confirmation, while urging the National Assembly to expedite the confirmation process when it reconvenes in September.
Adegbemle stressed that Ramat must also engage stakeholders — including investors, consumer groups, and operators — to reassure them of his commitment to transparency and lawful governance.
“The power sector is too critical to Nigeria’s economic stability to be mired in avoidable controversy,” he warned.
“NERC is a regulator, not a battleground. Unless this crisis is resolved swiftly, the credibility of the regulator and Nigeria’s ability to attract energy investments will be at risk.”
As Nigeria battles to stabilise its electricity supply industry, the unfolding drama at NERC underscores the tension between politics and due process in regulatory governance.
For many industry players, the resolution of this issue will determine whether Nigeria can achieve the long-awaited reforms necessary to guarantee reliable power and attract much-needed investment.