President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power.
This was disclosed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) on April 30, 2026, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
According to the presidency, the nomination follows the resignation of the former Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down from office to pursue elective office.
What the Presidency is saying
The nomination is said to have been transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation in accordance with the Constitution.
- “His nomination is expected to strengthen further ongoing efforts to reform the power sector, enhance grid stability, and attract sustainable investment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement partly reads.
According to Onanuga, the President expects the Minister-Designate, upon confirmation, to bring his extensive expertise to bear to advance critical reforms and deliver improved outcomes for Nigerians in the power sector.
Brief Profile
According to the presidency, Tegbe, from Oyo State, is a fiscal and economic reform expert with over 35 years of experience spanning the public and private sectors.
- “He is a former Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led wide-ranging 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 partly reads.
The nominee presently serves as the Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP).
As NSCP DG, he is responsible for strengthening bilateral development cooperation between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China.
The NCSP also coordinates engagements with public sector stakeholders to advance economic and social development in line with FOCAC objectives, the statement added.
According to the presidency, Tegbe’s experience includes significant engagements within the power sector, particularly in regulatory and institutional reform involving agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).
What you should know
The latest development is coming at a time when DisCos are facing renewed financial pressure following a directive by the NERC requiring them to refund N20.33 billion to customers who purchased prepaid meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
NERC previously directed that all refunds under the amended order must be completed within 12 months, with reimbursements applied directly to customer electricity bills.
In February, the Federal Government announced plans to share the electricity subsidy costs with other tiers of government, like the state and local governments, from 2026, thereby ending the burden of carrying the subsidy in the power sector.
