The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Mr. Aminu Yusuf, on Wednesday in Abuja assumed office with a pledge to produce demographic data that is “scientifically sound and transparently generated.”
Yusuf was sworn in by President Bola Tinubu alongside the Federal Commissioners representing Nasarawa and Yobe States. All three were appointed by the President on Oct. 9, confirmed by the Senate on Oct. 21, and sworn in on Wednesday.
He said the data to be produced by the commission would “capture the full reality of who we are and where we stand as a country.”
Unveiling a seven-point agenda, Yusuf said the plans were “not mere rhetoric, but a roadmap, a pledge and a mission statement.” He added that the agenda underscored “our steadfast commitment to an NPC that is trusted by Nigerians, respected across Africa and recognized globally as an institution powered by innovation, human capital, integrity and excellence.”
On stakeholder engagement, he said the commission would deepen collaboration with state and local governments, civil society organizations, traditional and religious leaders, academia, the media and international partners. According to him, the work of the commission is not a bureaucratic routine but a national mission.
He said the engagement framework, advocacy and public enlightenment campaigns would be expanded in the coming months.
Speaking on census delivery, Yusuf said the commission was committed to a modern, technology-driven and biometrically verified national census. “We are committed to delivering a census Nigerians can trust and use,” he said, adding that every stage—from the Enumeration Area Demarcation update to Post-Enumeration Surveys—would be executed with diligence.
On Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), he said the commission would build “a fully digital system accessible nationwide,” and expand registration centres beyond the current 4,000. He noted that digitizing CRVS would strengthen national identity, social inclusion and public health planning, while migration tracking systems would also be modernized to support security and development planning.
Yusuf described the completion of the new NPC headquarters as “an operational imperative,” saying ICT infrastructure and state offices would be upgraded to improve efficiency and ensure uniform service delivery.
He said the commission would also strengthen the quality of national surveys and research outputs, stressing that “guesswork has no place in modern development planning.” Reliable data, he said, must guide decisions in health, education, housing, migration, security and economic development.
On strategic population management, he noted that Nigeria was experiencing profound demographic shifts driven by rapid urbanization, changing fertility patterns and increased migration. The commission, he said, would provide timely analyses and projections to support planning for schools, hospitals, transport systems, agriculture and infrastructure.
Yusuf emphasized that staff welfare and institutional strengthening were central to his seven-point agenda. “No institution can rise above the competence, dedication and morale of its people,” he said, adding that his administration would prioritize training, merit-based progression and strict ethical standards.
He urged NPC staff to remain steadfast and uphold the highest standards, stressing that generating reliable demographic data “is not merely a technical exercise but a national duty—one we are fully prepared to fulfill with honor.”
