By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
REGULATORY LEADERSHIP in Nigeria’s electricity sector has been reset by President Bola Tinubu following a presidential approval of a newly reconstituted Board of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), coming after confirmation by the Senate on December 16.
The approval authorises a full Board structure for the Commission, with appointments and designations taking effect in line with statutory provisions.
The confirmation by the upper legislative chamber cleared the way for the formal constitution of the Board, as stated in the announcement.
The reconstituted Board is chaired by Mulisiu Olalekan Oseni, PhD, who previously served as a Commissioner from January 2017.
He was subsequently appointed Vice-Chairman of the Commission before his elevation to the top position. while his appointment as Chairman took effect from December 1, 2025.
The tenure will subsist until the completion of his ten-year term at the Commission, in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2023.
Yusuf Ali, PhD, has been designated Vice-Chairman of the Commission.
He was first appointed as a Commissioner in February 2022.
His designation as Vice Chairman took effect on December 1, 2025, and will remain in effect until the completion of his first term, as stated in the announcement.
Nathan Rogers Shatti has been confirmed as a commissioner and is serving a second term.
He was first appointed as a Commissioner in January 2017. His reappointment maintains continuity within the regulatory body, reflecting his previous service on the Commission.
Dafe Akpeneye also continues on the Board as a Commissioner, serving a second term. He was first appointed as a Commissioner in January 2017.
His continued presence forms part of the reconstituted structure approved by the President following Senate confirmation.
Aisha Mahmud Kanti Bello remains on the Board as a Commissioner, serving her second term.
She was first appointed as a Commissioner in December 2020. Her reappointment places her among members continuing their service under the reconstituted Board.
Chidi Ike, PhD, serves on the Board as a Commissioner in his first term. He was first appointed as a Commissioner in February 2022. His role continues under the newly approved Board framework.
Fouad Animashaun, PhD, has been appointed as a commissioner and is serving his first term, effective from December 2025.
The announcement describes him as an energy economist with extensive experience in the Nigerian power sector.
It further states that he most recently served as Executive Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The approval of the Board followed the Senate’s confirmation of all nominated members on December 16, completing the statutory process required for the reconstitution of the Commission’s leadership.
The announcement specifies that the appointments and designations align with existing legal provisions governing the electricity sector.
Beyond the appointments, President Tinubu issued a directive to the newly constituted Board. He charged the members to deepen and consolidate the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s power sector.
The charge emphasised strict alignment with both the letter and the spirit of the Electricity Act, 2023.
The directive forms part of the mandate accompanying the approval of the Board, emphasising the expectations placed on the Commission under its current leadership noting the statement links the Board’s responsibilities directly to the objectives outlined in the Electricity Act, 2023.
The announcement was issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, and is dated December 18, 2025. It outlines the composition of the Board, the effective dates of appointments, and the specific terms under which each member serves.
It says the NERC operates as the sector regulator, with its Board structure central to its statutory functions noting that the reconstitution, as approved by the President and confirmed by the Senate, restores a full complement of leadership positions within the Commission, as detailed in the announcement.
Each appointment and designation, as listed, reflects the individual service history of the members and the terms under which they continue or commence their roles.
The approval marks the formal activation of the Board under the current administration, following completion of the confirmation process by the Senate.
He reaffirmed the President’s expectation that the Board will carry out its duties in accordance with the governing law, as Nigeria continues efforts within its power sector framework.
