The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the appointments of Joseph Tegbe and Sola Enikanolaiye as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Their confirmation followed a screening exercise conducted by the Committee of the Whole during plenary on Wednesday.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier forwarded their nominations to the Senate on Tuesday, requesting legislative approval in line with constitutional provisions.
In the letter read before lawmakers, the president cited Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which empowers the president to nominate ministers subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Tinubu urged senators to give the request expedited consideration.
During his screening, Tegbe spoke extensively on the challenges confronting Nigeria’s electricity sector, warning that meaningful reforms would require difficult decisions and sustained transparency.
According to him, Nigeria’s power crisis cannot be solved through quick fixes or political promises.
“We will not do things the way we used to do before. I will not promise what I cannot deliver,” Tegbe told lawmakers.
Tegbe, who was appointed Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership in 2025, described electricity as the backbone of national development and public confidence.
He noted that despite years of reforms, the sector has continued to struggle due to weak implementation and structural inefficiencies.
The nominee assured lawmakers that if entrusted with the responsibility, his focus would be on execution, accountability, and measurable progress.
He identified power distribution, metering, transparency, and increased participation by state governments as critical areas requiring urgent attention.
“We must close the metering gap and ensure Nigerians can track performance through a transparent public dashboard. The sector must be properly structured, and the people deserve to see real improvement,” he said.
Tegbe also advocated greater involvement of sub-national governments in electricity generation as a way of reducing pressure on the national grid and improving supply across the country.
“We will come with clear milestones. If results are not visible in three months, they won’t be in six,” he added.
Following the screening, senators unanimously approved the nominations of Tegbe and Enikanolaiye, paving the way for their formal inauguration into the Federal Executive Council.
