A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has appealed to the Senate to confirm Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as the chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) without further delay..
On October 22, 2025, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), chairman, Senate Committee on Power, after a vetting and clearance, presented the trio of Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat, Mr. Abubakar Yusuf and Fouad Olayinka Animashaun as chairman, commissioner (Consumer Affairs) and commissioner (Finance and Administration) respectively, of NERC.
Despite the committee’s clearance, the nomination and appointment of Ramat by President Bola Tinubu has not been ratified by the Senate one month after.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the duo of Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince and Igwe Ume-Udenta, convener and co-conveners of Empowerment for Unemployment Youth Initiative (EUYI), on behalf of the coalition, challenged the Senate, especially the Senate President and Deputy Senate President to act fast in Ramat’s appointment.
They described as worrisome that the Senate under the leadership of Senators Godswill Akpabio and Jibril Barau has acted contrary to spirit of the Nigerian constitution by withholding the confirmation of executive officers in NERC without any tangible explanation.
Momoh said their action was not just an affront on the Executive arm of government but a glaring act of sabotage, considering the importance of the power sector in the economic recovery plan of President Tinubu
The coalition said its finding indicates that some senators seeking regional influence were determined to act as obstacles to the reform agenda of Tinubu.
Momoh said such senators were seeking instead to impose their personal interests on critical national appointments, rather than supporting the administration to build strong institutions and deliver progress.
He alleged that those involved in the charade had resorted to pressure tactics, intimidation, and blackmail of appointees and nominees of the President.
The group”s convener claimed that the delay in the confirmation of Ramat, it described as a core professional, was due to the actions of the Senate leadership.
“Sadly enough, no concrete reason(s) have been advanced to justify the prolonged delay in confirming this appointee. It is worrisome that the architects of this sabotage are APC top leaders, who in public claim to support the President, but in private work against his decisions because of their personal political schemes.
“Even more troubling is the realisation that, this delay is not because Engr. Ramat does not merit the job, nor is it in the national interest, but it is rather rooted in a Kano senator’s alleged political machinations and selfish interests.
‘This is political terrorism and must not be condoned by Nigerians. Let us be clear, no individual, however, politically positioned, should hold the nation hostage or subvert meritocracy for their personal ambition. The future of our power sector is far too important for petty political gimmicks. The power needs of Nigerians are too urgent (in fact, an emergency), and Mr. President’s reform momentum is also too critical to allow this form of internal sabotage to continue unchecked,” Momoh said.
The coalition reiterated its call for the immediate confirmation of Engr. Ramat and vowed to mobilise Nigerian youths to occupy the National Assembly and all NERC facilities if its demands were not met with 48 hours.
