By Rejoice Peterside
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Dr. Aminu Yusuf as the new Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), alongside Hon. Joseph Haruna Kigbu from Nasarawa State and Alhaji Tonga Betara Bularafa from Yobe State as federal commissioners.
The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population, chaired by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), during plenary.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a letter dated October 7, 2025, requested the Senate’s approval for the appointments in line with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers him to appoint members of federal executive bodies subject to legislative confirmation.
Presenting the committee’s report, Senator Umeh said the nominees had been duly screened and found competent and qualified to serve. He noted that their addition to the Commission’s leadership was necessary to strengthen its capacity ahead of the long-awaited national population and housing census.
“The nominees met all constitutional and moral requirements. Their inclusion will help reinforce the Commission’s structure and improve the credibility of its forthcoming assignments,” Umeh said.
After the report was considered, the Senate, sitting as a Committee of the Whole, approved the appointments through a voice vote presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
With the confirmation, Dr. Aminu Yusuf is set to replace Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, who has been serving as NPC Chairman since 2020. Yusuf’s nomination had earlier been endorsed by the Council of State during a meeting chaired by President Tinubu.
Hon. Joseph Haruna Kigbu, a former lawmaker who represented the Lafia/Obi/Keana Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State in the 7th National Assembly, and Alhaji Tonga Betara Bularafa, a public administrator from Yobe, will now join the existing team of commissioners representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Commission’s current membership already includes seasoned administrators such as Hon. Emmanuel Trump Eke (Abia), Dr. Clifford Zirra (Adamawa), Engr. Benedict Ukpong (Akwa Ibom), Mr. Chidi Christopher Ezeoke (Anambra), Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed (Bauchi), Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo (Bayelsa), and Barr. Patricia Kupchi Iyanya (Benue).
Others are Barr. Isa Audu Buratai (Borno), Bishop Alex Ukam (Cross River), Ms. Blessyn Brume-Ataguba (Delta), Dr. Jeremiah Ogbonna Nwankwegu (Ebonyi), Dr. Tony Aiyejina (Edo), Hon. Ayodeji Ajayi (Ekiti), Mr. Ejike Ezeh (Enugu), Hon. Joseph K. Shazin (FCT), Mr. Abubakar Damburam (Gombe), and Prof. Uba Nnabue (Imo).
Also in the Commission are Hon. Garba A.G. Zakar (Jigawa), Ms. Sa’adatu Dogon Bauchi Garba (Kaduna), Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa (Kano), Hon. Bala Almu Banye (Katsina), Dr. Haliru Bala (Kebbi), Hon. Yori Afolabi (Kogi), Razaq Folorunsho Gidado (Kwara), Barr. Mrs. Saidat Olayinka Oladunjoye (Lagos), Hon. Fasuwa Johnson Abayomi (Ogun), Hon. Mrs. Olukemi Victoria Iyantan (Ondo), Dr. Amidu Tadese Raheem (Osun), and Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji (Oyo).
Others include Ms. Mary Ishaya Afan (Plateau), Hon. Muhammad Dattijo Usman (Niger), Mr. Ogiri Itotenaan Henry (Rivers), Mr. Saany Sale (Taraba), Hon. Chiso Dattijo (Sokoto), and Hon. Mohammad Muttaka Rini (Zamfara), among others.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended President Tinubu for what he described as “a balanced and competent team” to lead the Commission.
With the new confirmations, the National Population Commission now has its full complement of a chairman and thirty-seven federal commissioners representing all states and the FCT, signaling renewed momentum toward the conduct of a credible national census.
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