ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm the nomination of Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power, following the resignation of Mr. Adebayo Adelabu.
The request was conveyed in a letter read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“In compliance with the provisions of Section 147(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I hereby forward for confirmation the nomination of Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the President stated.
He urged the upper chamber to expedite consideration of the nomination, expressing confidence in Tegbe’s capacity to assume the role.
Following the reading of the letter, Akpabio referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for immediate legislative action.
The nomination comes in the wake of Adelabu’s resignation in March 2026, after he declared his intention to contest the Oyo State governorship election ahead of the 2027 polls, in line with a federal directive requiring political appointees seeking elective office to step down.
Presidential spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, had earlier indicated that Tegbe’s nomination is part of efforts to consolidate ongoing reforms in the power sector, enhance grid stability, and attract sustainable investment in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tegbe, an indigene of Oyo State, is a seasoned fiscal and economic reform expert with over 30 years of experience spanning both public and private sectors. He previously served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa and currently holds the position of Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership.
He has also played a key role in policy and institutional reforms, having chaired the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee inaugurated in 2025, and participated in engagements with key power sector institutions, including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company.
If confirmed, Tegbe is expected to take charge at a time when Nigeria’s power sector faces persistent challenges around generation capacity, transmission constraints, and liquidity issues, with stakeholders anticipating continuity and acceleration of ongoing reforms.
