By Joel Ajayi

The Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population has commiserated with the National Population Commission (NPC) over the death of its Chairman, Dr. Aminu Yusuf.

The committee, led by its Chairman, Senator Victor Umeh, OFR, paid a condolence visit to the NPC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, September 7, 2026, to mourn the late chairman and offer its support to the commission and his family.

Dr. Yusuf died on August 28, 2026, less than a year after his screening and confirmation by the Senate.

Receiving the delegation on behalf of the commission was the Federal Commissioner representing Plateau State and the officer currently overseeing the office of the chairman, Hon. Mrs. Mary Ishaya Afan, mni. She was accompanied by other federal commissioners, the Director-General and senior management staff of the NPC.

Speaking during the visit, Senator Umeh described the death of Yusuf as shocking and painful, recalling that he first learnt of the development through a social media post.

Umeh said he initially found it difficult to believe the report, particularly because he had recently interacted with the late chairman during the World Population Day celebration on July 28.

“I was looking at my Facebook account and I saw a post that the Chairman of the National Population Commission was dead. I couldn’t believe it. I could not believe it at all,” he said.

The senator recalled that he had travelled from the South-East to Abuja to attend the World Population Day event despite the Senate being on recess.

He said the late chairman appeared healthy and actively participated in the event, adding that Yusuf personally saw him off to his vehicle after the programme.

“So you can imagine my trauma hearing that Dr. Aminu Yusuf is gone,” Umeh said.

The Senate committee chairman described Yusuf as a humble, committed and gentlemanly public servant who maintained cordial relations with the National Assembly throughout his tenure.

“Aminu Yusuf was a gentleman. Somebody who will never complain, even in the midst of difficulties in the task he was doing here,” he said.

Umeh lamented that the late NPC chairman died at a time when the country was looking forward to him leading the commission in conducting the long-awaited national census.

He said the committee’s condolence was extended on behalf of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, and the entire National Assembly.

The delegation included Senators Khabeeb Mustapha, representing Jigawa South-West, and Peter Jiya, representing Niger South, among others.

Senator Mustapha also offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the late chairman’s soul.

Responding on behalf of the NPC, Mrs. Afan thanked the Senate committee for the condolence visit, saying Yusuf’s death had left the commission deeply shaken.

“You can see the impact of this on our faces. Since after the death of the chairman, we have not had the opportunity to sit down like this in our Commission,” she said.

Afan described Yusuf as a visionary leader who assumed office with a seven-point agenda and immediately began efforts to reposition the commission.

She said the late chairman had laid a solid foundation for the NPC and expressed confidence that his successor would build on his achievements.

“He has laid a very good foundation for this Commission. Whoever Mr. President will bring, we will support the person to make sure that whatever our late Chairman has put on ground is accomplished,” she said.

The Plateau State Federal Commissioner further assured the Senate delegation that the NPC would remain committed to conducting the national census and would continue to pursue the vision of the late chairman.

“Chairman has died, but his legacies are still living,” Afan said.

At the end of the visit, Senator Umeh led members of the committee to sign the condolence register in honour of the late NPC chairman.

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