Former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr.Silas Agara, who was nominated as the chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), has been substituted.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in two separate letters dated March 20 and August 12, 2020, nominated Agara to head the Commission.
He was to be ratified for the position at the Council of State meeting chaired by Buhari on Thursday.
The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, revealed that the virtual meeting eventually ratified the appointment of the chairman and members of the NPC.
Although he did not list the names approved, a document circulated at the end of the briefing to State House correspondents showed Agara’s name as chairman.
It however, emerged later on Thursday night that Nasiru Isa Kwarra was in fact, the one appointed as the chairman of the commission and ratified by Council.
The ratification followed media reports that pressure had been put on President Buhari to substitute Agara on the grounds of his religious faith.
The SGF is however, said to have denied the allegation, stressing that the power to make such appointment rests with the President and there was no pressure on him to a t in any particular way.