Abuja: The National Council of State has approved the appointment of Dr. Aminu Yusuf from Niger State as the new Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) and endorsed the grant of presidential pardon to 175 inmates across the federation. Briefing State House correspondents after Thursday’s Police Council meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani said the Council’s decision followed recommendations by President Bola Tinubu, who chaired the meeting.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the Council also approved the appointment of Alhaji Tonga Betara Bularafa as the Federal Commissioner representing Yobe State at the Commission. Governor Sani highlighted the significance of the appointments, stating, “Today, 9th October 2025, the Council of State meeting was held earlier, and one of the major decisions taken was the appointment of the Chairman of the National Population Commission. The person appointed based on the recommendation by Mr President, who chaired the Council of State, is Dr. Aminu Yusuf from Niger State.”
Both appointments received unanimous approval from the members of the Council. Among those in attendance were former Presidents and Heads of State, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as governors and other members of the Council.
In addition, Governor Sani noted that the Council also discussed the report of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, presented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on behalf of the President. “After deliberation, the Council unanimously approved the recommendations for the different categories of the prerogative of mercy,” he said.
Governor Sani provided a detailed breakdown of the leniency approvals, noting that 82 inmates received presidential pardons, 65 had their sentences reduced, while seven death penalties were commuted to life imprisonment. “The total number approved under the prerogative of mercy is 175, as recommended by Mr President and presented to the Council by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice,” he added.