President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr Mulisiu Oseni as chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), following the Senate’s confirmation of members of the commission’s reconstituted board.
Oseni’s appointment implies the withdrawal of Abdullahi Ramat, whose name Tinubu had earlier forwarded to the Senate in August for confirmation as NERC chairman.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the presidency said Oseni’s appointment took effect from December 1, 2025, and will run until the completion of his 10-year tenure, in line with the Electricity Act, 2023.
Oseni had been serving as acting chairman of the commission since August, following the exit of the former chairman, Sanusi Garba.
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Ramat, a former chairman of Ungogo Local Government Area in Kano State, was nominated for the position on August 7. However, his nomination stalled in the Senate amid petitions and public controversy.
The 39-year-old had drawn criticism after he appeared at the NERC headquarters in Abuja to assume office before Senate confirmation, accompanied by political associates and security personnel. The move raised concerns among industry stakeholders and lawmakers, and he later withdrew from the premises following public backlash.
The Senate Committee on Power declined to confirm Ramat’s nomination, citing petitions and complaints against him. Allegations by some of his supporters that senators were paid to block the confirmation were dismissed by the Senate as unfounded.
Announcing the latest appointments, the presidency also confirmed Dr Yusuf Ali as vice chairman of NERC. Ali, who was appointed a commissioner in February 2022, assumed the role on December 1, 2025, and will serve until the completion of his first term.
Other members of the reconstituted NERC board include Nathan Shatti, Dafe Akpeneye, and Aisha Mahmud, all serving second terms, as well as Dr Chidi Ike, who remains in his first term.
Dr Fouad Animashaun joins the commission for his first term, effective December 2025. He most recently served as executive commissioner and chief executive officer of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, according to the statement.
Tinubu charged the new board to deepen reforms in the power sector and implement the Electricity Act “in both letter and spirit”.
