Protesters Storm National Assembly, Demand Swift Confirmation of NERC Chairman Nominee
Hundreds of protesters, comprising supporters of President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Abdullahi Ramat, civil society organizations, and human rights activists, stormed the National Assembly complex on Tuesday. They urged the Senate to expedite Ramat’s confirmation, which has been stalled amid allegations of political interference.
The demonstrators paraded the parliamentary grounds, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with messages such as “President Tinubu Did Not Send Nominees to be Harassed” and “Ramat Represents Reform in the Power Sector.”
The protest was triggered by the Senate’s decision last month to halt Ramat’s confirmation, despite his successful screening by the Senate Committee on Power, chaired by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Speaking to journalists, Ahmed Suleiman, leader of the protest and spokesperson for the Grassroots Initiative Concept, revealed that the group had petitioned President Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. He alleged that “certain vested interests” were blocking the appointment for political motives.
“We write as proud indigenes of Kano State, just like the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, to reaffirm our commitment to peace and good governance,” Suleiman said.
He expressed shock over the Senate’s action, noting that Ramat had received a positive recommendation from the screening committee despite his qualifications. “We have since learned that some vested interests are pushing false narratives to discredit him,” Suleiman alleged.
The group warned that permitting political interference to supersede merit could establish a “dangerous precedent,” potentially barring capable Nigerians from key roles due to personal vendettas and power struggles. They called on Senate leadership to resist “blackmail or manipulation,” arguing that confirming Ramat would advance national interests and bolster the Tinubu administration’s power sector reforms.
Tuesday’s demonstration comes four days after the Senate threatened legal action against former presidential aide Alwan Hassan, who accused lawmakers of accepting a $10 million bribe to derail Ramat’s confirmation.
Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu rejected the bribery claims as “baseless and reckless.” He explained that the confirmation was paused due to “public and private complaints” about the nominee’s suitability.
“Many nominees have been stepped down due to public outcry. Mr. Ramat’s case is not an exception,” Adaramodu stated.
The Senate has pledged to force Hassan to prove his allegations in court and vowed not to approve any nominee “under a cloud of public concern.”
Ramat’s nomination remains suspended pending further review, as public discontent grows over soaring electricity tariffs and unreliable power supply nationwide.
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