Dr. Ransome Owan, a US trained scientist who once worked for GE, was appointed for a five-year term as the executive Chairman of NERC.
NERC’s primary duty is protect the interests of consumers, issue licences to operators/investors, set and review electricity tariffs and where possible promote competition.
The Commission's main objective is to protect existing and future consumers' interests in relation to electricity generated and that conveyed by distribution or transmission systems.
[2] The Nigerian President nominates one nominee Commissioner to represent his/her geopolitical zone in the country for a fixed tenure of 4 years, renewable once only.
NERC works closely with the Nigerian Ministry of Environment and other related bodies in reviewing the safety, security and environmental impacts of proposed power plants and transmission networks.
[5] In November 2013, Nigeria auctioned off 6 power plants, one belonging to Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings.
[3] Transmission lines are outdated, ineffective, and power is stolen from electric poles, due to inadequate prepaid metering.
A new set of commissioners were sworn into office on February 7, 2017, filling a vacuum that had existed from December 2015 when the term of the last Board led by Mr. Sam Amadi expired.
Sam Amadi is the publisher of "Privatization and public good: The rule of law challenge” and tried to reposition NERC after a two-year period of controversy, midwifed by the suspension and then removal of the first Board of Commissioners, led by Dr.
[17][18] A new nominee, Prof. James Momoh, was forwarded to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 20, 2017.