By Ibrahim Sani Shawai
The trend of increasing youth inclusion under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership is a model that is good for even development and national unity; for this, many observers have lauded the President while urging him to sustain the feat.
Tinubu’s ability to recruit the finest of human resources to get the job done and well done at that; and particularly for his knack in choosing competence over grandstanding is good for the country.
This many observers have said was the reason for Tinubu’s appointment of a young technocrat, Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat to serve as the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), pending senate approval.
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For many, Engr. Ramat’s appointment represents more than competence in view of his achievements in power sector ecosystem spanning over 15 years of impactful experience in Nigeria’s energy landscape, specialising in regulatory governance, power sector transformation, and technology integration.
Ramat’s appointment as NERC Chairman designate is not just a prioritisation of inclusion but merit-based approach to youth inclusion in governance, a departure from the past where youths couldn’t be given opportunity to contribute their skills and technological know-how to developing their country.
Today, the power sector in Nigeria is undergoing a significant change and transformation which must be sustained through good regulatory framework anchored on technology and digital transformation which remained key to revamping the power sector as a key sector of focus to promote sustainable development and at the centre of this is Engr. Ramat whose competence in digital transformation and innovative approach to doing things would make NERC a better place for all stakeholders.
Ramat is a licensed Electrical Engineer and a PhD holder in Strategic Management who has led institutional reforms across public and private sectors, driving sustainability, efficiency, and digital modernization.
He is recognised for translating strategic policy into scalable solutions, with a reputation for aligning multi-stakeholder interests in complex regulatory environments.
In his usual style of leadership, Engr.Ramat is a listener, a man who believes in consultation and of course he is a strong advocate of using technology to solve every day challenges; this means that Ramat’s tenure when confirmed by the senate would be centred on customer protection and effective compliance to regulations that would help NERC live up to its mandate.
With such good listening skills, Ramat’s leadership would help in welcoming customer complaints that are not resolved by the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and ensuring that the right thing is done for customers’ satisfaction and better service delivery.
With his stakeholders engagement strategy also, he will build strong relationships with stakeholders, including consumers, operators, and government, to ensure NERC’s decisions reflect sector needs; this will be a game changer as it will help to ensure an all-inclusive approach to decision making which will result in smooth compliance at all levels.
Ramat in a recent chat with journalists after news of his appointment filtered in, pledged his dedication to strengthening the power sector, recognising the expectations of the government, the operators and Nigerians.
He said the challenges in the power sector are surmountable if all stakeholders work in harmony.
Ramat urged NERC officials to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and transparency to stabilise that sector. He stated that he would work assiduously to boost power generation, transmission and distribution.
“We know change won’t happen overnight, but with collective effort, we can enhance the efficiency of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. We are aware of the challenges Nigerians face, and it will not be business as usual. Distribution and generation companies must do the right things,” he said.
From the chat, it shows that Ramat is ready to build confidence of investors, stick to regulatory compliance as well as strengthen sectoral reforms.
Since inception, NERC has recorded significant achievements including the expansion of capacity and network by the issuance of licences for electricity generation, transmission and distribution, as well as the development of industry codes and standards, market rules and a multi-year tariff order. With the pedigree of Ramat for those that are familiar with his style of leadership, the commission under his watch will ensure an attractive and stable electricity market for all stakeholders in Nigeria.
Ramat’s intention will be to take responsibility towards regulating standards of performance for all electricity licensees and monitor performance to ensure that those standards are met, maintained and sustained. This is possible because Ramat is a leader with strict adherence to rule based processes, transparency, diligence, fairness and man that believes in continuous consultation.
He will propel NERC to the next level of development, fostering a robust, efficient, and sustainable electricity sector in Nigeria where the electricity market stakeholders will experience stability and consistency as it concerns regulatory framework.
The young engineer will enhance regulatory framework by strengthening NERC’s regulatory oversight to ensure compliance, transparency, and accountability in the electricity sector, this will promote power sector development.
Ramat has also pledged to drive initiatives that will boost electricity access, reliability, and affordability for Nigerian citizens.
His previous record of encouraging innovation and investment will also foster an environment that attracts investment and encourages innovation in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
By focusing on these strategic areas, NERC can move to the next level of development, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth and improving citizens’ quality of life while driving a power sector that embraces technology, efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.
Shawai is a public affairs analyst and can be contacted via [email protected] to
