- Abdullahi Ramat assumed NERC chairmanship without Senate confirmation, sparking legal and investor concerns.
- Stakeholders urged Senate approval and presidential clarity to restore regulatory stability.
Abdullahi Ramat, the newly nominated Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), sparked controversy on August 8 when he assumed office before Senate confirmation. This move divided stakeholders in the power sector.
President Bola Tinubu nominated Ramat, a former chairman of Ungogo Local Government in Kano State, to replace Sanusi Garba, who still had four years left in his tenure.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, initially announced that Tinubu directed Ramat to assume office in an acting capacity to prevent a leadership vacuum. Hours later, Onanuga reissued the statement, clarifying that Ramat and other nominees must await Senate confirmation while Vice Chairman Musiliu Oseni continued as acting chairman.
Despite the clarification, Ramat stormed NERC headquarters in Abuja with political supporters and security personnel, including an armed officer, and took over from Oseni at a handover ceremony. He pledged to study NERC’s books and work with stakeholders to stabilise the power sector.
Consumer groups and industry players condemned his action. PowerUp Nigeria’s Executive Director, Adetayo Adegbemle, described the takeover as a “constitutional crisis,” accusing Ramat of violating the NERC Act by resuming office without Senate approval. The Utilities Consumers Rights Advocacy Initiative petitioned the Attorney General, calling the takeover illegal and warning that Ramat’s decisions could lack legitimacy.
Analysts warned that the controversy threatens investor confidence in Nigeria’s fragile power sector. “NERC is a regulator, not a battleground,” Adegbemle said, urging Tinubu to reaffirm that Ramat remains only a nominee until Senate confirmation.
The Senate, currently on recess until late September, must confirm Ramat before he can lawfully serve as NERC chairman.