President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Mulisiu Oseni as the substantive Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), thereby replacing Abdullahi Ramat, whose nomination had earlier been submitted to the Senate for confirmation but was subsequently dropped.
According to sources, Ramat’s nomination soon became contentious following reports that he allegedly arrived unannounced at the NERC headquarters in Abuja on August 8, accompanied by political associates and security personnel, despite not yet being confirmed by the National Assembly.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday to News Point Nigeria by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
Oseni’s appointment as Chairman marks a clear shift from President Tinubu’s earlier nomination of Abdullahi Ramat, a former Chairman of Ungogo Local Government Area in Kano State, who was named for the position in August 2025 following the exit of the immediate past chairman, Sanusi Garba.
Ramat’s nomination, however, quickly became embroiled in controversy after reports emerged that he allegedly stormed the NERC headquarters in Abuja on August 8, accompanied by political associates and security personnel, even though his nomination was yet to be confirmed by the National Assembly.
Videos from the incident circulated widely, showing Ramat arriving at the commission’s office with an entourage, including an individual dressed in military uniform standing behind him. The footage sparked sharp criticism from power sector stakeholders and civil society groups, who described the move as inappropriate and a breach of due process.
Despite the growing backlash, Ramat was briefly received at the NERC headquarters by Dr. Oseni, who was then serving as Vice Chairman of the commission, during a short and informal handover ceremony. Ramat, however, later vacated the premises amid intense public outrage.
Subsequently, the Senate Committee on Power declined to screen and confirm Ramat’s nomination, citing numerous petitions and complaints submitted against him. While some of Ramat’s supporters later alleged that senators had been paid $10 million to block his confirmation, the Senate firmly denied the claim.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, described the allegation as false and misleading, stressing that the Senate’s decision was informed by “a barrage of public and private complaints” relating to the nominee.
Although a Kano-based advocacy group, Grassroots Initiative Concept, staged protests urging the Senate to confirm Ramat, the nomination eventually stalled indefinitely.
In Thursday’s statement, Onanuga announced that Dr. Oseni’s appointment as substantive Chairman of NERC took effect from December 1, 2025, and will run until the completion of his statutory 10-year tenure, in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2023.
