President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Aminu Yusuf as the new Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC).
The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, who said the appointment takes immediate effect.
According to the statement, Dr. Yusuf’s appointment reflects the President’s commitment to strengthening key national institutions with competent professionals capable of delivering on the administration’s development agenda.
“President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Aminu Yusuf as Chairman of the National Population Commission. The President expects that the new Chairman will bring his wealth of experience to bear in advancing the Commission’s critical mandate,” Ngelale stated.
The NPC, established in 1988, is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating demographic data to guide national planning and development. It also oversees the conduct of Nigeria’s national population and housing census.
Dr. Yusuf’s appointment comes at a crucial time, as Nigeria prepares for its long-awaited national census, which has faced multiple postponements over funding, logistics, and security challenges. The new Chairman is expected to lead renewed efforts to ensure the exercise is credible, data-driven, and reflective of Nigeria’s true population dynamics.
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The statement added that President Tinubu expects Dr. Yusuf to “apply his expertise in statistics, demography, and public administration to reposition the Commission for greater efficiency and transparency.”
Until his appointment, Dr. Aminu Yusuf was a development expert and policy strategist with over two decades of experience in population management, data analytics, and governance reform. He previously served in various advisory and leadership capacities in both the public and private sectors, including international development organizations.
Presidency sources described Yusuf as “a technocrat with a reputation for innovation and integrity,” noting that his leadership would be vital in ensuring that the next population census aligns with international best practices.
The upcoming census, last conducted in 2006, is considered critical to Nigeria’s economic and social planning, as accurate population data helps determine federal allocations, infrastructure development, and service delivery.
Analysts say Yusuf’s appointment could signal a renewed push by the Tinubu administration to modernize census operations through digital data collection and improved inter-agency collaboration.
“Accurate demographic data is key to planning in areas like education, healthcare, housing, and job creation,” said Dr. Florence Agbo, a demographer at the University of Abuja. “The success of the next census will depend largely on the competence and integrity of the NPC leadership.”
President Tinubu, through the statement, reaffirmed his administration’s determination to support the NPC in achieving a credible population census that will serve as a foundation for long-term national development.
Dr. Yusuf is expected to assume office immediately and begin consultations with federal and state stakeholders on the roadmap for the forthcoming census exercise.