DELAY DEFEATS EQUITY: Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as a Case Study

When justice is delayed, it ceases to be justice. Equity demands that justice must not only be done, but done in good time. Time, in many respects, is the currency that gives justice its meaning.

The prolonged delay in the confirmation of Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) undermines these principles of natural justice and equity. Why? It has been more than four months since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated Engr. Ramat. He has undergone screening by the Senate and, by every legal and professional standard, fulfilled the requirements of the position. Yet, vested interests have kept his confirmation in limbo.

The Senate Committee on Power—after a thorough, transparent, and bipartisan screening—unanimously cleared him. Their report, recommending his confirmation, was duly transmitted to the Senate leadership over a month ago. Accordingly, the Senate Order Paper of October 22 clearly listed his confirmation as an item for deliberation and adoption. For reasons known only to political bad behaviour, that item was abruptly stepped down.

Reasonable Nigerians are now asking essential questions:

1.⁠ ⁠Can the Senate leadership, by its singular discretion, refuse to present a committee’s report for adoption?

2.⁠ ⁠Should the personal grievances or political interests of a few individuals override the collective decision of a properly constituted Senate Committee?

Although the law does not specify a strict timeframe within which the Senate must conclude its confirmation process, the principles of fairness and administrative justice require that such processes be concluded within a reasonable period. It is therefore unjust—and indeed inequitable—for Engr. Ramat’s confirmation to be subjected to delay without explanation.

If there are new petitions or complaints, submitted after his screening, the Senate has every right to investigate them tho

Tinubu Nominates Ramat as NERC Chairman, Appoints Two New Commissioners

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Ramat, 39, is a seasoned electrical engineer and administrator with a PhD in Strategic Management, among other qualifications.

Alongside Ramat’s nomination, the President also forwarded the names of two other appointees to serve as commissioners at the regulatory agency. They are Mr. Abubakar Yusuf, who is nominated as Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, and Dr. Fouad Olayinka Animashun, Commissioner for Finance and Management Services.

All three nominations are subject to confirmation by the Senate.

To ensure uninterrupted leadership at the commission, President Tinubu has directed that Engr. Ramat assume office in an acting capacity pending Senate approval, in accordance with legal provisions.

The President charged the nominees to bring their expertise to bear in revitalizing the nation’s power sector and contributing meaningfully to the administration’s broader energy reform agenda.

The announcement was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Tinubu Picks Young Reformer to Head Nigeria’s Power Regulatory Commission

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of 39-year-old Engr. Dr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The appointment, announced on Monday, is seen as a strategic move by the Tinubu administration to inject youthful innovation and technical depth into the country’s electricity regulatory framework.

Engr. Ramat, a highly accomplished engineer and governance expert, brings with him a wealth of experience in public sector innovation, digital transformation, and strategic regulatory leadership. 

His appointment is expected to usher in a new era of intelligent regulation, improved consumer protection, and enhanced investor confidence in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

With a multidisciplinary background, Ramat holds a PhD in Strategic Management from Lincoln University, a Master’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from India, and a B.Eng in Electrical Engineering from Bayero University, Kano. He also boasts executive certifications from globally renowned institutions, including Harvard University, Microsoft, Google, and Gonzaga University.

Ramat's track record in governance is equally notable. As Executive Chairman of Ungogo Local Government Area in Kano State from 2021 to 2024, he pioneered Nigeria’s first blockchain-based decentralized e-identity system, which led to the creation of tamper-proof indigene and resident ID cards. He established the Ungogo Identity Management Agency (UIMA) and the Ungogo Internal Revenue Agency (UIRA), significantly boosting administrative efficiency and increasing internally generated revenue by over 300% through a cloud-based ERP platform.

Prior to that, he served as Managing Director of the Kano State Metropolitan Agency (KASMA), where he oversaw energy-efficient retrofits aimed at reducing electricity costs in public infrastructure.

An innovator in the tech space, Engr. Ramat is the developer of LURA, an advanced smart surveillance platform that utilizes Internet of Things (IoT), biometrics, and real-time analytics to enhance community safety and combat organized crime.

He is also the founder and CEO of AG Ramat Global Link and AG Ramat Global Apex, companies focused on engineering consultancy and technology services.

Engr. Ramat’s efforts have earned him local and international accolades, including recognition by the Pan African Youth Leadership Foundation (Dubai, 2022) as one of the “50 Most Influential Young African Leaders,” and “Best Performing Local Government Chairman” by the Kano State House of Assembly.

Stakeholders in the energy sector have welcomed the appointment, describing it as a bold step towards a smarter, more efficient, and more accountable regulatory regime.