‘A year shy of 40, Local govt Chairman, PhD in strategic management, others,’ Here are 8 things to know about the new Chairman for Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)
President Bola Tinubu has nominated Abdullahi Garba Ramat as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.
In a statement issued by the presidential spokesperson on Thursday, Ramat, aged 39, is described as an electrical engineer and administrator, holding a PhD in strategic management, among other qualifications.
President Tinubu also nominated two individuals to serve as commissioners on the NERC board. The nominees are Mr Abubakar Yusuf, Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, and Dr Fouad Olayinka Animashun, Commissioner for Finance and Management Services.
The presidency noted that all nominations are subject to confirmation by the Senate.
“However, to avoid a leadership vacuum in the critical regulatory agency, the President directed that Engr. Ramat assume office in an acting capacity pending his screening by the Senate, as stipulated by the law.
“President Tinubu urged the new appointees to use their knowledge and experience to discharge their functions and work assiduously to advance the administration’s power sector vision,” the statement reads.
Platforms Africa reports that Ramat replaces Sanusi Garba as Chairman of NERC.
Profile of Man Who Will Lead Your Next Electricity Tariff Review
1. Ramat, aged 39, has experience in engineering, public sector operations, and digital systems. His appointment is expected to support regulation, consumer-related matters, and investor-related policies in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
2. He holds a PhD in Strategic Management from Lincoln University, a Master’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from an institution in India, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Bayero University, Kano.
3. Ramat has also completed executive certifications from institutions including Harvard University (Big Data Analytics, Civil Engagement), Google (Workshop Administration), Microsoft (Azure Solutions Architect Expert), and Gonzaga University (Power Transmission and Distribution Systems).
4. He received his primary school certificate from a community school in his locality and completed his junior secondary school education at Government Technical College, Ungogo. He obtained his secondary school certificate from Dawakin Tofa Science College. To further his education, he enrolled in an IJMB Programme at the College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studicloud-based5.
5. Between 2021 and 2024, while serving as Executive Chairman of Ungogo Local Government Area, Ramat oversaw the introduction of a blockchain-based decentralised electronic identity system used for issuing indigene and resident identification cards.
6. He also established the Ungogo Identity Management Agency (UIMA) and the Ungogo Internal Revenue Agency (UIRA) to support local administrative and revenue processes.
7. During his tenure, the Ungogo Internal Revenue Agency implemented a cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that increased internally generated revenue by over 300 percent.
8. Prior to this, Ramat was Managing Director of the Kano State Metropolitan Agency, where he oversaw energy retrofitting work aimed at reducing power consumption in public facilities.
Platforms Africa
