New NPC chairman pledges transparent, acceptable census exercise

By Kunle Sanni –

Newly sworn-in Chairman of the National Population Commission, Aminu Yusuf, on Wednesday promised to conduct a transparent and acceptable national census, saying the exercise will be carried out to win public trust.

Speaking with State House correspondents shortly after he took the oath of office alongside two NPC commissioners, Yusuf said his immediate focus is delivering a credible headcount Nigerians can own.

“This country needs a transparent, acceptable census, which I have promised.

“I’ve taken an oath here with my commissioners. By the grace of God, we will be transparent in whatever we do in the conduct of the census, so that at the end of it all, it will be acceptable to Nigerians,” he noted.

The NPC boss said he is confident in the quality of his team and the Commission’s leadership.

“With the calibre of team that I have as federal commissioners, and a very versatile and experienced director-general, I don’t have any fear, because it’s a mandate that the President has given us, and he has given us a marching order.

“I have about four mandates, but I will talk about only one, which Nigerians know… when you hear about the National Population Commission, we mostly believe it is the census.

“We have the mandate already of the National Population Commission. But as I’ve said, I only pick on the census because that is what most Nigerians understand,” Yusuf added.