Protesters on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly complex, calling on the Senate to expedite the confirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Engr. Abdullahi Ramat.
The demonstrators, made up of Ramat’s supporters, civil society groups, and human rights activists, marched around the parliamentary complex chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with inscriptions such as “President Tinubu Did Not Send Nominees to be Harassed” and “Ramat Represents Reform in the Power Sector.”
Their protest followed last month’s decision by the Senate to suspend Ramat’s confirmation despite his successful screening by the Senate Committee on Power, chaired by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Addressing journalists during the protest, the leader of the group and spokesperson for the Grassroots Initiative Concept, Ahmed Suleiman, said petitions had been sent to both President Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, alleging that certain “vested interests” were working to frustrate the nominee’s confirmation for political reasons.
“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.
“It is surprising and deeply unsettling that Engr. Ramat’s confirmation was stepped down despite his qualifications and the positive recommendation of the screening committee. We have since learned that some vested interests are pushing false narratives to discredit him.”
The group warned that allowing political interference to override merit would set a “dangerous precedent” where capable Nigerians are denied national appointments due to personal grudges and power tussles.
They urged the Senate leadership not to yield to “blackmail or manipulation,” insisting that confirming Ramat would serve the national interest and advance President Tinubu’s ongoing power sector reforms.
The protest came just four days after the Senate threatened legal action against former presidential aide, Alwan Hassan, who alleged that lawmakers received a $10 million bribe to block Ramat’s confirmation.
In response, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu dismissed the bribery allegations as “baseless and reckless,” explaining that Ramat’s confirmation was only stepped down due to “public and private complaints” about his suitability.
“Many nominees have been stepped down due to public outcry. Mr. Ramat’s case is not an exception,” Adaramodu said.
The Senate has vowed to compel Hassan to substantiate his claims in court, maintaining that no nominee will be confirmed “under a cloud of public concern.”
Meanwhile, Ramat’s nomination remains on hold pending further legislative review, even as Nigerians continue to lament rising electricity tariffs and persistent poor power supply across the country.
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