President Bola Tinubu has officially inaugurated two additional commissioners to the National Population Commission, bolstering the commission’s efforts in demographic research and analysis.
The ceremony, which took place at 12:15 pm in the esteemed Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, saw Mr. Fasuwa Johnson and Dr. Amid Tadese Raheem taking the oath of office. Their abridged citations were presented before the ceremony commenced, detailing their qualifications and experiences.
This event marks a significant step, coming three months after President Tinubu forwarded Raheem’s nomination to the Senate on February 13, followed by Johnson’s confirmation on March 6. Notably, President Tinubu had earlier appointed 20 federal commissioners to the NPC on November 8, 2023, with 17 of them being sworn in on March 14, 2024.
Johnson, hailing from Ododeyo in the Ijebu North East area of Ogun State, brings a wealth of experience, having served as a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly until June 2023. His tenure notably saw him chairing the House Committee on Works and Infrastructure.
Raheem, born in Iwo, Osun State, boasts an extensive academic background, holding degrees from Obafemi Awolowo University and having served in various governmental and educational capacities, including as Commissioner for Water Resources & Energy in Osun State.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, a solemn moment of silence was observed in memory of two esteemed former cabinet members, Prof. Fabian Osuji and Prof. Ogbonnaya Onu, who recently passed away. Prof. Osuji, who served as Minister of Education under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, passed away on February 28, 2024, while Prof. Onu, a former governor of Abia State, passed away on April 11, 2024.
Subsequently, the Tinubu-led Federal Executive Council convened for its 11th meeting since inauguration on August 28, 2023. As per the announcement made by Information Minister Mohammed Idris on October 16, 2023, the council has transitioned its meeting schedule to Mondays, with sessions occurring only when there are memoranda to deliberate upon. This strategic adjustment ensures that council meetings are convened purposefully, addressing pertinent issues as they arise.
