Council Of State Okays Tinubu’s Nominee As New NPC Chair, Pardons 82 Prisoners

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 also endorsed the grant of presidential clemency to 175 inmates across the country.

Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Council of State meeting held on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to him, the Council’s decision followed recommendations by President Bola Tinubu, who presided over the meeting.

“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,” Governor Sani said. “The person appointed based on the recommendation by Mr. President, who chaired the Council of State, is Dr. Aminu Yusuf from Niger State.”

He added that the Council also approved the appointment of Alhaji Tonga Betara Bularafa as the Federal Commissioner representing Yobe State at the Commission.

Both appointments, he said, received unanimous approval from the members of the Council.

“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,” the Kaduna governor stated.

Governor Sani further explained that the Council also deliberated on the report of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which was 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.

He gave a breakdown of the clemency decisions as follows: 82 inmates were granted presidential pardon, 65 had their prison terms reduced, while seven death sentences 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 said.

Governor Sani added that both items — the appointments and the clemency approvals — were deliberated upon and agreed to unanimously by the Council.