On Tuesday, Nasir Kwarra, the National Population Commission’s (NPC) chairman, formally ended his five-year term and transferred the commission’s leadership to Muhammad Dattijo, the Federal Commissioner for Niger State.
According to reports, Dattijo will act as chairman until President Bola Tinubu swears in Aminu Yusuf.
Federal Commissioners, the Director-General, Directors, and commission employees attended the short but symbolic ceremony at the NPC Headquarters in Abuja.
Kwarra thanked his coworkers and subordinates for their support throughout his tenure in office in a statement released by the commission on Wednesday.
“I am grateful to the NPC’s Federal Commissioners, Management, and Staff for their steadfast support and commitment during my five-year tenure,” he stated.
Strengthening data collection systems, digitizing the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system, and accelerating preparations for the upcoming national population and housing census are just a few of the significant achievements under Kwarra’s leadership.
He emphasized that professionalism and teamwork made the progress possible.
During the handover ceremony, Kwarra received a parting gift, formal notes were signed, and a group photo was taken to commemorate the occasion.
It is anticipated that Dattijo, in his current acting role, will continue ongoing projects until the new chairman formally takes office.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Kwarra in 2020, and he oversaw the commission’s planning for Nigeria’s first housing and population census in almost 20 years.
The upcoming census is a crucial national concern because the last one was carried out in 2006.
In order to modernize census operations and increase accuracy, the NPC used digital mapping and enumeration area demarcation under his direction.
The change in government caused the census, which was originally planned for 2023, to be delayed.
It is now anticipated that Aminu Yusuf, the incoming substantive chairman, will lead the commission to finish the long-delayed task, which is thought to be essential for equitable national development and evidence-based planning.
