The Senate has called for the National Population Commission (NPC) to be granted first-line charge status, stressing that the agency’s demographic mandate is even more crucial than that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for national planning and development.
The recommendation came during a budget defence session of the Senate Committee on National Population and NIMC, where NPC Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida Yusuf, presented the Commission’s 2025 budget performance and 2026 projections.
Senator Victor Umeh, Committee Chairman, noted that a constitutional amendment to confer first-line charge status on the NPC is underway, with a bill already sponsored. He highlighted that while Nigeria prioritizes INEC due to elections, the institution holding the country’s total population data remains underfunded.
“Governance begins with knowing your numbers,” Umeh said, likening the situation to a father needing to know the number of his children to plan their welfare. He stressed that credible demographic data is essential for effective planning in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.
The call for funding protection followed troubling 2025 budget performance figures. Dr. Yusuf disclosed that the Commission was appropriated ₦36.2 billion, including ₦18.2 billion for capital projects, ₦1.17 billion for overheads, and ₦16.76 billion for personnel. However, zero naira was released for capital expenditure, a 0% performance rate, while overheads recorded only 41.8% release. Personnel costs exceeded projections, with ₦17.33 billion released, attributed to central processing through the Accountant General’s office.
The Senate stressed that any expenditure beyond approved sums must follow National Assembly procedures and be fully documented. Lawmakers reiterated that granting first-line charge status would protect the NPC from funding uncertainties and accelerate preparations for a long-awaited, technology-driven national census, critical for Nigeria’s development planning.
