In a formally staged ceremony held at the NPC headquarters on Tuesday, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra marked the end of his five-year term as Chairman of the National Population Commission, handing over to Hon. Muhammad Usman Dattijo, the federal commissioner representing Niger State, who will serve as Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a new substantive chair. (Leadership News)
Kwarra, who was appointed in October 2020, used his final remarks to reflect on key achievements during his tenure, including:
Strengthening the digitisation of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system. (Leadership News)
Modernising the NPC’s data-management platforms in preparation for the forthcoming national population and housing census. (Leadership News)
Fostering stakeholder engagement across federal and sub-national levels to improve demographic data collection and utilisation. (nationalpopulation.gov.ng)
“These accomplishments were made possible through collective dedication and professionalism,” Kwarra remarked, acknowledging the support of commissioners, management and staff. (Leadership News)
He also noted the outgoing chapter would not affect the momentum of ongoing reforms, urging staff and stakeholders to maintain focus until the transition is complete and the new chair is sworn in.
Commissioner Dattijo, in his acceptance speech, pledged continuity, stating that the NPC would “remain committed to delivering high-quality demographic information and support the nation’s developmental objectives” while awaiting the new appointment. (Leadership News)
Significance & Outlook
The leadership transition at the NPC comes at a pivotal time, as Nigeria gears up for its next national census — a crucial exercise for planning across sectors such as health, education, infrastructure and social services.
The handing-over of an Acting Chairman reflects careful adherence to governance norms, but the eventual appointment of a substantive chair remains highly anticipated and politically relevant.
Observers will watch how promptly the government fills the vacancy and whether the new leadership builds on digitisation efforts and data-transparency commitments initiated by Kwarra’s team.
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