President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), ushering in a fresh wave of leadership in Nigeria’s power regulatory body.
In the same announcement, Tinubu proposed the appointments of Mr. Abubakar Yusuf as Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, and Dr. Fouad Olayinka Animashun as Commissioner for Finance and Management Services at NERC.
The nominations were made public through a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Thursday.
“Engr. Ramat, 39, is an electrical engineer and administrator who holds a PhD in Strategic Management, among other qualifications,” the statement noted.
Ramat to Serve in Acting Capacity Pending Senate Confirmation
To prevent a leadership vacuum, President Tinubu directed that Engr. Ramat immediately assume the role of acting Chairman/CEO, pending the outcome of his Senate screening, as required by law.
The President urged all nominees to bring their expertise to bear and contribute meaningfully to his administration’s power sector reforms and energy vision.
In a heartfelt reaction to his nomination, Ramat stated:
“Alhamdulillah. From leading just a single LGA to now being entrusted with matters concerning all the 774 LGAs through NERC. Truly, God is great.”
Ramat Succeeds Sanusi Garba at the Helm of NERC
Engr. Sanusi Garba, whom Ramat is set to replace, has held the reins of the commission since 2020 after being appointed by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. Prior to his appointment, Garba had served as Vice Chairman and later Acting Chairman, following the tenure of Prof. James Momoh.
Garba’s rich experience includes key roles such as:
- Executive Director (Generation) at the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC)
- Director of Power at the Federal Ministry of Power
- Chief Executive Officer of Katsina Steel Rolling Company Ltd
He has also contributed to national policy through his participation in the Presidential Committee on Power Sector Reform (2007–2008) and the Presidential Task Force on Power (2009-2010).
Despite the leadership transition, Garba is expected to serve out his five-year term, set to conclude in December 2025; in alignment with the provisions of the newly enacted Electricity Act, 2023, which replaced the Electric Power Sector Reform Act.
