President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated Sanusi Garba, the current vice-chairman and commissioner, Market Competition and Rates, to serve as the chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) sequel to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.
In a letter sent to the Senate on Tuesday, read by the Senate President, the president also appointed Musiliu Olalekan Oseni as vice chairman and Aisha Mahmud as a commissioner.
According to the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005, (ESPR), the president nominates one nominee Commissioner to represent his/her geopolitical zone in the country for a fixed tenure of 4 years, renewable once only. The Chairman and CEO has a period of 5 years, also renewable once only. The nominees are duly screened by the Nigerian Senate.
The current Chairman James Momoh, a Professor of Electrical Engineering with Howard University, USA was inaugurated Chairman/Chief Executive of the NERC was appointed May 3rd, 2018, and should be in office till 2023. But at 70years, he is due for retirement creating a vacancy.
Garba obtained his Bachelor of Engineering degree from Ahmadu Bello University where he graduated as the Best Final Year Student in Electrical Engineering. He later obtained a Master of Science degree in Industrial Management from the University of Birmingham, UK.
His professional career started at the design & standards department of the then National Electric Power Authority headquarters, Lagos where he was posted for the National Youth Service.
Prior to his nomination for the position of Vice Chairman of NERC, Garba had served as the Chief Executive of Katsina Steel Rolling Co. Ltd and Director (Power) in the Federal Ministry of Power with responsibility for Generation, Transmission, and Distribution aspects of the electricity industry.
He has also served as Executive Director (Generation) at the Niger Delta Power Holding Co. Ltd during which he provided technical and commercial leadership for the efficient operation of seven (7) NIPP thermal power plants.
Garba has served on many Federal Government Committees including the Presidential Committee on Power Sector Reform (2007/8) and the Presidential Task Force on Power.
The ESPR, provides for the tenured appointment of seven Commissioners, with one of them designated as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, and another as Vice Chairman. The Commissioners are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The Commission is made up of seven Divisions, each with its strategic role in ensuring the smooth running of day to day activities of NERC.
