PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has requested that the Senate confirm two nominees for appointment as commissioners of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The request followed leadership vacuum created by the expiration of the tenure of the Vice Chairman of NERC and the commissioners on December 1.
Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate, and read by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday, December 9.
He said the nominations were made in line with section 35 (1) and (3) of the Electricity Act 2023, which empowers the president to appoint commissioners to the regulatory body subject to Senate confirmation.
The president added that the appointments were intended to strengthen the commission as it continued to oversee reforms in Nigeria’s electricity market.
“In accordance with the provisions of Section 35 subsections 1 and 3 of the Electricity Act 2023, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of the following two persons as commissioners in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission,” the letter read in part.
The nominees are Aisha Mahmoud Kanti-Bello, who is being reappointed as a commissioner, and Fouad Animashaun, who was nominated as a new commissioner.
Tinubu noted that their nominations replaced an earlier submission sent to the Senate on August 6, 2025.
The Senate is expected to screen the nominees in the coming days.
If confirmed, the nominees will join NERC’s leadership at a time the commission is implementing major reforms under the new electricity law, particularly as it is transitioning regulatory oversight to the states to unbundle and strengthen the generation, transmission, and distribution value chain in the sector.
Other responsibilities expected of the incoming commissioners are expanded regulatory oversight, licensing responsibilities and the transition toward subnational electricity markets.
The ICIR reports that following the expiration of NERC commissioners’ tenure, there has been a seeming lapse in the regulatory functions, which has lately seen the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Presidency, as well as other committees, moving into the sector to fill regulatory gaps.
NERC is the independent regulator of the electricity sector in Nigeria with responsibilities that are focused on tariff regulation, market development and enforcement of regulatory oversight to players in the power sector value-chain.
The incoming commissioners are expected to deepen responsibilities and coordination, especially now that states are more empowered to seek independence through the unbundling of the power sector.
Harrison Edeh is a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, always determined to drive advocacy for good governance through holding public officials and businesses accountable.