President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr Mulisiu Oseni as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), following the confirmation of the commission’s board members by the Senate, a move that also marked a reversal of an earlier nomination for the position. The appointment was announced on Thursday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said Oseni’s designation took effect from December 1, 2025, in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2023.
According to the Presidency, Oseni’s appointment came after the Senate concluded the confirmation of members of the reconstituted NERC board, paving the way for substantive leadership at the power sector regulator. The development effectively replaced Abdullahi Ramat, whose name President Tinubu had earlier forwarded to the Senate in August for confirmation as NERC chairman following the exit of the immediate past chairman, Sanusi Garba.
Ramat, a former chairman of Ungogo Local Government Area in Kano State, was nominated at a time when the commission was undergoing leadership transition. However, his nomination soon became controversial after he reportedly appeared at NERC’s Abuja headquarters in August and attempted to assume office before securing confirmation from the National Assembly, a move that drew widespread criticism from industry stakeholders and members of the public.
The incident, which was widely reported at the time, showed Ramat arriving at the commission accompanied by political associates and security personnel, including an individual dressed in military uniform. The development raised concerns within the power sector about due process, regulatory independence and adherence to constitutional procedures governing appointments to key public offices.
Following the incident, Ramat left the NERC premises amid public backlash and was subsequently unable to secure Senate confirmation. The Senate Committee on Power later declined to screen and confirm him, citing multiple petitions and complaints submitted against his nomination. Senate officials maintained that the decision was based on due process and the need to protect the integrity of the commission.
Allegations later emerged from some of Ramat’s supporters claiming that senators had been induced to halt his confirmation, an assertion that was firmly denied by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu. Adaramodu described the claims as baseless, explaining that the Senate’s action was informed by what he termed a “barrage of public and private complaints” surrounding the nominee.
In announcing Oseni’s appointment, Onanuga said the President acted in accordance with the Electricity Act, 2023, which provides for a fixed tenure for commissioners and the chairman of NERC. He stated that Oseni’s appointment would run until the completion of his 10-year tenure at the commission, reflecting continuity within the regulatory framework guiding Nigeria’s power sector reforms.
Oseni is not new to the commission, having joined NERC as a commissioner in January 2017. He previously served as vice chairman of the commission and became acting chairman in August 2025 following the departure of the former substantive chairman. His elevation to the top position is seen as a move to ensure stability and institutional memory at a time of ongoing reforms in the electricity sector.
The Presidency also announced the appointment of Dr Yusuf Ali as vice chairman of NERC. Ali, who was first appointed as a commissioner in February 2022, assumed his new role on December 1, 2025. According to the statement, his designation will remain in effect until the completion of his first term, in line with statutory provisions.
Other members of the reconstituted NERC board include Mr Nathan Shatti and Mr Dafe Akpeneye, both of whom are serving second terms after their initial appointments in January 2017, as well as Aisha Mahmud, who is also on a second term following her first appointment in December 2020. Dr Chidi Ike continues his first term after being appointed in February 2022, while Dr Fouad Animashaun joins the commission for a first term beginning in December 2025.
President Tinubu, according to the statement, charged the new NERC leadership and board members to deepen and consolidate the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s power sector. He urged the commission to carry out its mandate in strict alignment with the letter and spirit of the Electricity Act, 2023, as the Federal Government continues efforts to improve electricity supply, regulatory efficiency and investor confidence in the sector.