President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr Aminu Yusuf as the new Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), as part of a broader effort to reorganise key federal agencies for more effective governance and service delivery.
This appointment was among several nominations the President sent to the Senate for confirmation on Wednesday, October 8, including fresh leadership for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
President Tinubu’s letter, which was read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, requested the upper chamber to consider and confirm the appointments as part of the administration’s drive to reposition strategic national institutions.
Dr Aminu Yusuf’s appointment as Chairman of the NPC comes at a time when the country is preparing for an overdue national census. The commission plays a critical role in collecting and managing population data used for national planning, elections, infrastructure development, and economic policies.
The President also nominated Dr Musa Babayo to head the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), which is responsible for the upkeep of federal roads across Nigeria. Many road users and communities have expressed concern about the poor state of federal highways, making this nomination crucial to efforts aimed at improving road infrastructure.
One of the key highlights of the President’s letter was the nomination of Idris Olorunnimbe as the new Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) — the body responsible for regulating Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.
Dr Aminu Wada was retained as Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, signaling continuity in executive leadership while bringing in fresh oversight.
Also nominated for the NCC board are:
Abraham Oshidami – Executive Commissioner, Technical Services
Rimini Makama – Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management
Maryam Bayi
Col. Abdulwahab Lawal (retd.)
Lekan Mustafa
Chris Okorie
Oforitsenere Emiko
The President explained that these appointments are meant to improve the performance and effectiveness of Nigeria’s communications regulatory framework at a time when digital infrastructure and access are becoming increasingly important to national development.
In the same letter, President Tinubu nominated Professor Adeniran Raymond Tella as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Oyo State, under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This role is vital in ensuring free, fair, and credible elections in the state, especially ahead of future electoral activities.
The President also requested the Senate to confirm Keji Onwu as Independent Director on the Board of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), a key financial safety net institution that protects depositors in the event of bank failures.
Additional nominees were also forwarded for positions within the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), underscoring a broad reshuffle aimed at strengthening the country’s civil service and regulatory bodies.
Following the reading of the letters, Senate President Akpabio referred the nominations to the appropriate Senate committees for screening and legislative action. He directed the Senate Committee on INEC to conclude its assignment within one week, given the sensitivity and urgency of electoral matters.
The screening of other nominees is expected to follow promptly, in line with the Senate’s commitment to support executive efforts to deliver good governance.
