President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday inaugurated the newly appointed Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Aminu Yusuf, alongside two commissioners of the agency and five Federal Permanent Secretaries. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, shortly before the President presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Tinubu arrived at the Chamber at exactly 1:31 p.m., where the newly appointed officials and senior government aides were already assembled. After citations were formally read, the five permanent secretaries — Abdulkarim Ibrahim, Dr John Ezeamama, Dr Abdul-Sule Garba, Dr Isiaku Mohammed and Dr Ukaire Chigbowu — took their oaths of office at 1:42 p.m. Each officer proceeded to sign the official register, marking the completion of their induction into the federal civil service’s highest administrative cadre.
At 1:47 p.m., Dr Aminu Yusuf, who was appointed NPC Chairman on 9 October 2025, was sworn in. He was joined by two commissioners of the Commission, including Dr Tonga Betara representing Yobe State. With their appointments now formalised, the officials are expected to play critical roles in advancing the Commission’s mandate.
The NPC is responsible for conducting national censuses, overseeing vital statistics, and producing demographic data essential for Nigeria’s development planning. Its work feeds into decision-making across sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure and social policy. The appointment of a new chairman and commissioners is therefore seen as a significant step towards repositioning the Commission for upcoming population and data-driven projects.
During the session, the Federal Executive Council observed a minute’s silence in honour of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Joy Ogwu, who passed away on 13 October 2025 at the age of 79. Ogwu, a respected diplomat and academic, previously served as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and was widely regarded as one of the country’s most influential foreign policy figures.
Wednesday’s event marked the eighth FEC meeting of the year, with the President expected to focus discussions on governance priorities, institutional reforms and the implementation of ongoing national programmes.
The swearing-in of the NPC leadership and permanent secretaries underscores the administration’s commitment to strengthening public institutions and ensuring continuity within key government structures.
