ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — Protesters gathered at the National Assembly on Tuesday to demand the Senate confirm President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Engr. Abdullahi Ramat, whose appointment has stalled amid controversy.
Supporters of Ramat, along with civil society groups and rights activists, marched around the parliamentary complex, chanting solidarity songs and waving placards that read “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 step down Ramat’s confirmation despite his successful screening by the Senate Committee on Power.
Ahmed Suleiman, spokesperson for the Grassroots Initiative Concept, said the group had petitioned both President Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. “We are here to defend merit and integrity,” Suleiman said. “Ramat is qualified, experienced, and committed to reforming Nigeria’s power sector. Blocking his confirmation sends the wrong message.”
Reactions from the public reflected growing frustration over political interference and poor electricity service.
“I don’t know Ramat personally, but if he passed the screening, why the delay?” said Maryam Danjuma, a trader in Abuja. “We need people who can fix the power problem, not more politics.”
Others expressed concern about transparency in the confirmation process.
“If there are genuine concerns, let them be addressed openly,” said Chinedu Okeke, a policy analyst. “But if this is about power plays and lobbying, it undermines public trust.”
The protest comes days after former presidential aide Alwan Hassan alleged that lawmakers received a $10 million bribe to block Ramat’s confirmation. The Senate denied the claim and threatened legal action.
Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu said the confirmation was paused due to “public and private complaints” and insisted the Senate would not be pressured into confirming any nominee “under a cloud of public concern.”
Ramat’s nomination remains suspended pending further review, as Nigerians continue to grapple with rising electricity tariffs and unreliable power supply.
