President Bola Tinubu has approved a full reconstitution of the Board of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) following the Senate’s confirmation of the nominees on December 16.
Gatekeepers News reports that the development signals a renewed push by the administration to stabilise the electricity market, strengthen regulatory oversight and accelerate long-delayed reforms in Nigeria’s power sector.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said the appointments—made up of returning commissioners and new members—reflect Nigeria’s transition into the regulatory framework of the Electricity Act, 2023. The Act expands the role of state governments, promotes competition and creates room for sub-national electricity markets.
At the helm of the commission is Dr Mulisiu Olalekan Oseni, whose appointment as Chairman took effect from December 1, 2025. Oseni joined NERC in 2017 and rose to the position of Vice Chairman, giving him a continuity advantage as the commission navigates what is described as its most significant legal and structural transition in two decades.
His tenure as chairman will last until the completion of his cumulative 10-year term, as stipulated by law. Serving alongside him is Dr Yusuf Ali, who has been elevated to Vice Chairman, effective December 1, 2025. Ali was first appointed as a commissioner in February 2022 and now assumes a central role in licensing, tariff approvals and regulatory compliance—key areas critical to stabilising the electricity value chain.
Two commissioners, Mr Nathan Rogers Shatti and Mr Dafe Akpeneye, return for second terms. Both were initially appointed in January 2017 and have played key roles in tariff reforms, regulatory enforcement, metering improvements and market settlement processes.
Aisha Mahmud Kanti Bello, first appointed in December 2020, also begins a second term, while Dr Chidi Ike, appointed in February 2022, continues his first term, reinforcing the commission’s technical capacity in market operations, consumer protection and distribution oversight.
The only new entrant to the board is Dr Fouad Animashaun, who begins his first term in December 2025. An energy economist, Animashaun recently served as Executive Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, bringing state-level regulatory experience that aligns with the Electricity Act’s vision of devolved electricity markets.
Within government circles, his appointment is seen as a strategic move to drive competitive pricing, enforce fiscal discipline and harmonise federal and state regulatory interventions in the power sector.
According to the Presidency, Tinubu has charged the reconstituted board to consolidate ongoing reforms, enforce discipline among market operators, protect consumer rights and support investments capable of lifting national power output beyond current levels.
The President also stressed strict adherence to the letter and spirit of the Electricity Act, 2023, particularly provisions aimed at expanding generation capacity through private capital, strengthening cost-reflective pricing without exploiting consumers, supporting states seeking regulatory autonomy, ensuring technical compliance by distribution and generation companies, and curbing short-payment practices and energy theft.
The reconstitution of NERC comes at a delicate time, with the national grid grappling with low generation levels, liquidity challenges and rising debt across distribution companies. Analysts have consistently maintained that regulatory consistency, enforcement of sanctions for contract breaches and restored investor confidence are critical to achieving sustainable electricity supply in Nigeria.
