Why Tukur Handed Over To Ashibel – NEMSA 

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) says the handover of leadership from its outgoing Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Aliyu Tukur Tahir, to the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Utsu P. Ashibel, PhD, was strictly guided by federal service rules on tenure and seniority. 

The agency, in a statement issued on Monday by its Head of Communications and Protocol, Mrs Ama Umoren, explained that Engr. Tahir’s statutory tenure elapsed on December 31, 2025, in line with extant regulations governing chief executives of federal agencies. 

Citing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Circular Ref. No. SGF/OP/I/S.3/T/39 dated August 28, 2019, NEMSA said the circular mandates that, upon completion of tenure, an outgoing chief executive must hand over to the most senior officer in the organisation pending the appointment of a substantive head. 

“Consequently, and in strict compliance with this directive, Engr. Tahir duly handed over to the most senior Executive Director, Corporate Services, Dr. Utsu P. Ashibel, who will act as Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer until a substantive appointment is made,” the statement said. 

NEMSA stressed that the transition was designed to ensure continuity, stability and institutional integrity, adding that the orderly succession underscores government’s determination to avoid leadership vacuums in strategic technical agencies in the power sector. 

The agency noted that under Engr. Tahir’s stewardship, NEMSA recorded significant gains in institutional strengthening, regulatory enforcement and operational efficiency, including improved inspection, testing and certification processes, automation of service delivery and deeper collaboration with stakeholders across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).