Coalition urges senate to confirm NERC chairman nominee
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has called on the Senate to urgently confirm the nomination of Engr. Abdullahi Ramat as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to accelerate ongoing reforms in the power sector under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the coalition — […]
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has called on the Senate to urgently confirm the nomination of Engr. Abdullahi Ramat as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to accelerate ongoing reforms in the power sector under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the coalition — led by Comrades Danesi Momoh Prince and Igwe Ude-Umanta — appealed to President Tinubu to intervene to ensure Ramat’s confirmation without further delay. They described the confirmation as a key step toward strengthening governance and transparency in the electricity sector.
According to the group, Ramat is a reform-driven professional with extensive experience in electrical engineering, telecommunications, and strategic management.
“He is a perfect fit for the chairmanship of NERC. His confirmation is critical to restoring confidence in the power sector and accelerating long-awaited reforms,” the coalition stated.
The coalition said the Senate Committee on Power, chaired by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, had completed its screening and presented Ramat alongside two nominees — Mr. Abubakar Yusuf and Mr. Fouad Olayinka Animashaun — for confirmation since October 22, 2025, but that the Senate had yet to act on the report.
The group expressed concern over what it described as an “unnecessary delay,” urging the Senate leadership to provide clarification or conclude the process promptly. It also warned that further delay could prompt peaceful demonstrations by civil society groups at the National Assembly and NERC offices.
“The Senate’s inaction sends a wrong signal to Nigerians about the urgency of power sector reforms,” the statement read.
“We urge the leadership of the National Assembly to treat this matter as one of national importance.”
The coalition further cautioned against allowing political considerations to influence the confirmation process, saying such tendencies could undermine public confidence and slow down progress in the sector.
“The power needs of Nigerians are too pressing to be entangled in politics. The process should be based purely on merit and national interest,” the group added.
The coalition described Ramat — a Fellow of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Harvard alumnus, pioneer Managing Director of the Kano State Metropolitan Agency (KASMA), and current Director of AG Ramat Global Electrical/Electronic Ltd — as a competent technocrat capable of driving lasting reforms in Nigeria’s energy landscape.
It concluded by calling for a transparent, merit-based confirmation process that aligns with the government’s agenda to stabilise and expand the country’s power infrastructure.