By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
FRESH APPOINTMENTS and a ministerial nomination in the power sector have been announced as President Bola Tinubu put forward Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power, subject to Senate confirmation.
JKNewsMedia.com reports Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President Information and Strategy, disclosing this in a statement released on Thursday, noting that the nomination had been transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation in accordance with the Constitution.
His nomination follows the resignation of former Minister Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down from office to pursue elective office.
Mr. Tegbe, from Oyo State, is described as a fiscal and economic reform expert with over 35 years of experience across public and private sectors.
He is a former Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led initiatives in fiscal policy reform, institutional transformation and governance.
He has also advised government institutions and private sector organisations on strategic reforms, regulatory frameworks and investment structuring.
He currently serves as Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria China Strategic Partnership (GLNCSP), where he is responsible for strengthening bilateral development cooperation between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China (NPRC).
The partnership coordinates engagements with public sector stakeholders to advance economic and social development in line with FOCAC objectives.
Mr. Tegbe’s experience includes engagements within the power sector, particularly in regulatory and institutional reform involving agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBETC).
The statement noted that his nomination is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts to reform the power sector, enhance grid stability and attract sustainable investment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The President expects the minister designate, upon confirmation, to bring his expertise to advance critical reforms and deliver improved outcomes for Nigerians in the power sector.
Babalola As Special Adviser on Power
Similarly, President Tinubu has appointed Mr. Rilwan Lanre Babalola as Special Adviser to the President on Power and as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration.
The President has also redesignated the Office of the Special Adviser Energy as the Special Adviser Oil and Gas to clarify roles and avoid duplication of functions within the energy governance framework.
Mr Babalola, a former Minister for Power, brings sectoral expertise and understanding of structural and operational challenges within the electricity value chain.
His appointment underscores the President’s determination to undertake a results driven reset of Nigeria’s power sector.
The Presidential Task Force, which he heads, will operate under a direct presidential mandate as a delivery focused vehicle to restore discipline, efficiency and commercial viability across the power sector, while ensuring coordination among relevant ministries, departments and agencies.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that its mandate includes driving a comprehensive system reset of the electricity sector, implementing a performance before expansion framework, reducing technical, commercial and collection losses, and strengthening cost discipline and tariff integrity.
The task force will also enhance revenue assurance and sector liquidity, restore grid discipline and market integrity, promote productive use of power across key sectors, develop electricity growth zones, reduce fiscal exposure, and deliver a 90-day implementation blueprint.
The President expects Mr Babalola to bring urgency, discipline and strong execution focus to the assignment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda to deliver measurable improvements in power supply and sector performance.
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