Tinubu forwards new NERC Commissioner nominees
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm the appointments of Aisha Mahmoud Kanti-Bello and Fouad Animashaun as commissioners of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The request was conveyed in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the plenary session on Tuesday.
In the correspondence, President Tinubu cited Section 35(1) and (3) of the Electricity Act 2023 as the legal basis for the nominations.
The President noted that the new request overrides a previous list submitted earlier in the year.
“This appointment supersedes my earlier submission via a letter dated 6th August 2025,” Tinubu wrote.
The nominees are; Aisha Mahmoud Kanti-Bello (Commissioner) and Fouad Animashaun (Commissioner).
The President urged the Senate to accord the request an expeditious consideration and confirmation.
The fresh request comes amidst lingering controversy surrounding the leadership of the commission.
On November 11, the National Assembly complex was the scene of a peaceful protest by residents of Kano State, who demanded the immediate confirmation of Abdullahi Garba Ramat as NERC Chairman.
The protesters, arriving in coastal buses, displayed placards accusing the Senate leadership of undermining the Presidency, with inscriptions such as “Tinubu’s nomination should be respected” and “Akpabio and Barau must stop undermining President Tinubu.”
President Tinubu had reportedly forwarded Ramat’s name for confirmation as Chairman on October 7, 2025. However, the request has stalled in the legislative chamber.
Addressing the delay and the accompanying public criticism, Senate Spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) denied allegations of bribery or sabotage.
“The Senate is statutorily bound to pause consideration of any nominee facing serious public petitions or controversies. Many nominees in the past have been stepped down for similar reasons. Ramat’s case is no exception,” Adaramodu explained.
While the President’s letter on Tuesday specifically addressed the positions of commissioners, the silence on the chairmanship slot has fueled speculation regarding the status of Ramat's nomination.