Tinubu seeks Senate confirmation of Tegbe as Power Minister

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally asked the Senate to confirm the nomination of Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power, following the resignation of Adebayo Adelabu.

The request was conveyed in a letter read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The nomination marks a key development in the leadership of Nigeria’s power sector, coming at a time when the government is seeking to strengthen reforms and improve electricity supply across the country.

“In compliance with the provisions of Section 147(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I am pleased to forward for confirmation by the Senate the nomination of Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the letter read in part.

Tinubu added, “While I hope this request will receive the expeditious consideration of the Senate, please accept… the assurances of my highest regards.”

Akpabio, after reading the letter, referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.

“This correspondence is referred to the Committee of the Whole for immediate action,” he said.

Tegbe’s nomination follows the exit of Adelabu, who resigned in March 2026 to pursue the Oyo State governorship election ahead of the 2027 polls, in line with a directive requiring political appointees seeking elective office to step down.

In an earlier statement, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the nomination was aimed at strengthening ongoing reforms in the power sector, improving grid stability, and attracting sustainable investment in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tegbe, an indigene of Oyo State, is a fiscal and economic reform expert with over three decades of experience across the public and private sectors. He previously served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa and is currently Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership.

He also chaired the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, inaugurated in 2025, and has been involved in regulatory and institutional reforms in the power sector, including engagements with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company.