Nigeria’s Power Regulation Faces Imminent Collapse as Experts Warn Tinubu to Prioritize Competence in NERC Appointments

Nigeria’s electricity regulatory system is facing what experts describe as an unprecedented leadership and structural crisis, with the tenure of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Chairman/CEO set to expire on December 1, 2025.

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat — a former local government chairman — as the next head of the Commission, along with two commissioners: Abubakar Yusuf (Consumer Affairs) and Dr. Fouad Olayinka Animashun (Finance and Management Services), pending Senate confirmation.

However, investigations by Vanguard reveal that appointments into NERC’s leadership have increasingly leaned toward political considerations rather than technical expertise. Analysts warn this trend threatens both the power sector and the wider economy, especially as NERC continues to struggle with regulatory deficiencies despite the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023.

Experts Raise Alarm Over NERC’s Leadership Crisis

Industry stakeholders told Vanguard that promoting seasoned professionals from within the Commission would bring stability, continuity, and technical strength — something they say is urgently needed as several top positions will become vacant in coming months.

They noted that failure to appoint a substantive, qualified leadership team could leave NERC legally headless, creating a dangerous regulatory vacuum that could paralyze tariff approvals, licensing decisions, and consumer protection mechanisms.

Experts further warned that the South West, North Central, and North East have never produced a NERC chairman, stressing that overlooking these zones again may fuel political tension and erode the commission’s legitimacy.

“A Constitutional Crisis” — PowerUp Nigeria

Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, Adetayo Adegbemle, described the controversial installation of Engr. Ramat on August 8, 2025, as a destabilizing blow to the sector.

According to him:

“Ramat’s dramatic arrival at NERC headquarters… wasn’t merely a leadership transition; it was a constitutional crisis unfolding in real-time.”

He said Ramat’s takeover without Senate confirmation violated the NERC Act (2005), warning that with the Senate on recess, the leadership void could render future regulatory decisions invalid.

Investor reaction, he added, has been one of “undisguised alarm”:

“It’s not just illegal — it’s dangerous… International partners view independent, rule-based regulation as non-negotiable.”

Adegbemle acknowledged that Ramat, 39, has promising academic credentials, including a PhD in Strategic Management, but argued that his legitimacy is undermined by questionable appointment processes and lack of direct power-sector experience.

Broader Sector Concerns

National President of OGSPAN, Mazi Colman Obasi, lamented Nigeria’s worsening power crisis:

“Consumers provide electricity by themselves using solar and generators… The government needs to take the right decisions and on time.”

Another expert, who preferred anonymity, said:

“The regulator plays very important roles as the watchdog of the sector… It is a well-informed and competent Chairman with adequate capacity and connections that we need.”

Multiple Tenures Ending Soon

The Electricity Act 2023 specifies:

• 5-year tenure for the Chairman
• 4-year tenure for Commissioners
• Reappointments must be made before term expiration

Key tenures ending:

• Dr. Musiliu Oseni (South West) – Vice Chairman — expires Dec 1, 2025
• Hajiya Aisha Mahmud (North West) – Consumer Affairs — Dec 2025
• Nathan Shatti (North East) – Finance & Management — Feb 2026
• Dafe Akpeneye (South South) – Legal & Compliance — Feb 2026
• Dr. Yusuf Ali (North Central) – Planning — Feb 2026
• Engr. Chidi Ike (South East) – Engineering — Feb 2026

With all commissioners’ tenures expiring by early 2026 and no acting mechanism in the law, experts warn of a possible total regulatory shutdown affecting:

• tariff reviews
• electricity market operations
• licensing
• consumer protection
• market settlements

They urge President Tinubu to urgently “look inward” and appoint technically competent professionals to avert a systemic collapse.

Opinion Nigeria News