A political pressure group, Grassroot Initiative Concept, has appealed to the Senate to hasten the confirmation of Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), describing the delay as a setback to President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda.
The group’s Convener, Alwan Hassan, made the appeal on Friday in Kano during a press conference, where he alleged that political interference within the National Assembly was behind the delay in confirming Tinubu’s nominee.
Hassan said Engr. Ramat had already been screened and cleared by the Senate Committee on Power, noting that further delay was inconsistent with the principles of merit and competence enshrined in the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He accused some lawmakers of placing personal and political interests above national development, claiming that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his Deputy, Senator Barau Jibrin, were obstructing the process for political reasons.
“It is unfortunate that this delay appears driven by politics rather than merit. Engr. Ramat is young, competent, and committed to reforming the power sector,” Hassan said.
He described the nominee as a technocrat with a track record of innovation and integrity, adding that his plans for NERC align with the Electricity Act 2023, which promotes transparency, investor confidence, renewable energy, and consumer protection.
Hassan further noted that the delay reflected “a broader pattern of political obstruction” that sidelines qualified citizens from Kano and other parts of the country from contributing to national development.
He urged Senators Akpabio and Barau to allow due process to prevail and respect the President’s mandate, saying: “The future of our power sector is too important and Nigerians’ needs too urgent to allow internal sabotage. Merit must prevail, and Engr. Ramat should be confirmed without further delay.”
The group reaffirmed its support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and called on all political actors to align with his efforts to strengthen governance and deliver service to Nigerians.
“We stand with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. We stand for progress and for every competent Nigerian dedicated to national development,” Hassan added.