Tenure Tangle: Pressure Mounts on Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Review Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Appointment
A growing controversy is putting pressure on Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act swiftly, as a civil society group warns that a key regulatory appointment could breach existing law and destabilize the power sector.
The Dynamic Patriotic Citizens Foundation, through its solicitors, Tolu Babaleye &Co in a memorandum dated April 21,2026 has petitioned the President to immediately review the recent leadership changes at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), raising concerns about compliance with statutory tenure limits.
At the center of the dispute is the appointment of Dr. Sanusi Garba Oseni as Executive Chairman.
According to the group, provisions of the Electricity Act specifically Sections 36(2) and 36(4) cap a commissioner’s service at two terms or a maximum of 10 cumulative years.
Having first been appointed in February 2017, Oseni is projected to reach that limit by February 2027.
The petition argues that there is no explicit legal provision allowing a reset of tenure upon elevation from commissioner to chairman.
As a result, the group warns the appointment could be deemed ultra vires raising the risk that regulatory decisions taken under his leadership might face legal challenges.
This concern comes at a sensitive time for Nigeria’s electricity reforms.
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Any uncertainty around the legality of NERC’s leadership, the group cautions, could undermine investor confidence, trigger litigation, and disrupt ongoing efforts to stabilize the power sector.
While acknowledging the administration’s reform agenda, the group is urging President Tinubu to intervene decisively, to review the appointment, ensure strict adherence to the law, and take corrective steps to safeguard the Commission’s credibility.
The message is clear: beyond the legal technicalities, the credibility of Nigeria’s regulatory institutions and the stability of its power sector which may hinge on how quickly and transparently this issue is addressed.
