By Isaac James
The Senate has screened seven presidential nominees for appointment as Federal Commissioners of the National Population Commission (NPC), expressing satisfaction with their qualifications and readiness to serve in the nation’s critical data agency.
The nominees, forwarded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are expected to fill existing vacancies across several states in the Commission.
Lawmakers noted that the NPC, which comprised representatives from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, played a vital role in national planning, development policy, and statistical coordination.
After the screening exercise, the Senate described the nominees as highly qualified professionals with strong academic backgrounds and relevant experience, saying they are well-positioned to contribute effectively to the Commission’s mandate.
The upper chamber also reiterated the urgency of conducting a credible national census, stressing that Nigeria’s last population count was carried out nearly two decades ago. It emphasized that reliable and updated population data remains essential for planning, equitable resource allocation, and addressing demographic needs across children, youths, working adults, and the elderly.
Senators further underscored the importance of conducting both population and housing censuses simultaneously, noting that such an approach would provide comprehensive data to guide national development, particularly in tackling the country’s housing deficit.
While acknowledging the administration’s commitment to a national census evidenced by the establishment of a Presidential Advisory Committee on the Census the Senate noted that the exercise had been postponed due to electoral considerations. It, however, expressed optimism that preparations would continue, with the census expected after the elections.
The Senate concluded by affirming its satisfaction with all seven nominees and assured that its report would be forwarded for confirmation in due course.
