President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power.
The nomination was disclosed in a statement issued on April 30, 2026, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, and is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
According to the presidency, the move follows the resignation of the former Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down to pursue elective office.
The nomination has been transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation in line with constitutional provisions.
“His nomination is expected to further strengthen ongoing efforts to reform the power sector, enhance grid stability, and attract sustainable investment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement partly read.
Onanuga added that the President expects the minister-designate, upon confirmation, to deploy his extensive expertise to advance critical reforms and improve outcomes in the power sector.
Brief profile of Tegbe
The presidency described Tegbe, an indigene of Oyo State, as a fiscal and economic reform expert with over 35 years of experience across the public and private sectors.
“He is a former Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led initiatives in fiscal policy reform, institutional transformation, and governance.
“He has also advised key government institutions and private sector organisations on strategic reforms, regulatory frameworks, and investment structuring,” the statement said.
Tegbe currently serves as Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), where he oversees bilateral development cooperation between Nigeria and China and coordinates engagements aligned with Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) objectives.
The presidency noted that his experience includes engagements in the power sector, particularly in regulatory and institutional reforms involving agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).
The nomination comes amid renewed financial pressure on electricity distribution companies (DisCos), following a directive by NERC requiring them to refund ₦20.33 billion to customers who purchased prepaid meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
NERC had earlier directed that all refunds under the amended order be completed within 12 months, with reimbursements credited directly to customers’ electricity bills.
In February, the Federal Government also announced plans to share electricity subsidy costs with state and local governments from 2026, ending the sole burden on the federal government.
