ABUJA, Nigeria (BN24) — Fresh tension erupted at Nigeria’s National Assembly on Tuesday as protesters demanded the Senate immediately confirm President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Engr. Abdullahi Ramat.
The demonstrators, comprising Ramat’s supporters, civil society organizations, and human rights activists, marched around the National Assembly complex in Abuja, chanting solidarity songs and waving placards with messages such as “President Tinubu Did Not Send Nominees to Be Harassed” and “Ramat Represents Reform in Power Sector.”
The protest followed the Senate’s October 22 decision to suspend Ramat’s confirmation despite his successful screening by the Senate Committee on Power, chaired by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Addressing reporters during the protest, Ahmed Suleiman, spokesperson of the Grassroots Initiative Concept, said the group had petitioned both President Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing “vested political interests” of working to derail Ramat’s confirmation.
“We write as proud indigenes of Kano State, just like the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau Jibrin, to express our firm commitment to the peace, progress, and good governance of our great nation,” Suleiman said.
He urged the Senate to end the delay, describing Ramat as a highly qualified candidate with the technical expertise and experience needed to reform Nigeria’s struggling power sector.
“Engr. Ramat possesses the requisite academic and professional qualifications, as well as valuable experience,” he said. “It is surprising and deeply unsettling that his name was stepped down on the Senate Order Paper despite a positive screening recommendation. Certain vested interests have mounted pressure to block his confirmation by advancing false narratives and politically motivated petitions.”
Suleiman warned that the delay could set “a dangerous precedent where Nigeria’s most capable hands are subjected to the vindictive whims of politics.”
The demonstration came days after the Senate threatened legal action against former presidential aide Alwan Hassan, who alleged that some lawmakers collected a $10 million bribe to block Ramat’s confirmation.
Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu dismissed the bribery claims as “baseless and malicious,” saying the delay was due to “public and private complaints” questioning the nominee’s suitability for the top regulatory post.
“The attention of the Senate has been drawn to the uncoordinated cacophony of one innocuous Alwan Hassan, who is a hand-tool to one Mr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat,” Adaramodu said in a statement. “Many nominees have stepped down due to such public outcry. The case of Mr. Ramat is not an exception.”
Adaramodu maintained that the Senate would not succumb to pressure from interest groups or political actors, insisting that “no nominee will be confirmed under a cloud of public concern.” He added that the legislature would compel Hassan to appear in court and substantiate his bribery allegations.
The impasse over Ramat’s appointment has deepened frustrations nationwide amid worsening electricity tariffs, erratic supply, and public demand for stronger regulatory oversight in the power sector.
Analysts note that the leadership of NERC, the body responsible for enforcing electricity market rules and tariff structures, plays a central role in Nigeria’s efforts to stabilize the energy sector. The prolonged delay, they warn, risks slowing policy implementation under the Tinubu administration’s energy reform agenda.
Protesters on Tuesday appealed to Senate President Akpabio to prioritize “the national interest, unity of Nigeria, and success of the Tinubu administration” by concluding the confirmation process promptly.
As of press time, Ramat’s nomination remains suspended pending legislative review and possible reconsideration in the coming weeks. Senate insiders suggest that the issue may return to the floor once the leadership committee concludes consultations with the presidency and other stakeholders.
