The National Council of State sanctioned the appointment of Dr. Aminu Yusuf from Niger State as the new Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC). The Council also sanctioned the awarding of presidential pardon to 175 prisoners across the country.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani made the disclosure when he briefed State House journalists following the Council meeting, which was conducted on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
As stated by him, the choice of action by the Council came after suggestions made by the President. “Today, 9th October 2025, the Council of State meeting was conducted, and among the key decisions made was the appointment of the Chairman of the National Population Commission. The individual appointed, as recommended by Mr. President, is Dr. Aminu Yusuf from Niger State,” Sani stated.
He went on to say that the Council also approved the appointment of Alhaji Tonga Betara Bularafa as Federal Commissioner from Yobe State to the Commission, for which both appointments received unanimity approval.
Governor Sani informed that former Presidents and Heads of State like Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, and certain state governors and other members of the council were in attendance at the session.
He further said that the Council took into consideration 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 agreed that the recommendations for the various categories of the prerogative of mercy be accepted,” he said.
82 prisoners were pardoned by the president, 65 received reduced sentences, and seven death sentences were reduced to life imprisonment, making a total of 175 beneficiaries.
He added that both the appointments and the approvals of clemencies were well debated and unanimously decided upon by the Council.
