NPC chairman Aminu Yusuf dies at 66, eight months after assuming office

Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Aminu Yusuf

NPC chairman Aminu Yusuf dies at 66, eight months after assuming office

The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Aminu Yusuf, has died at the age of 66, barely eight months after President Bola Tinubu appointed him to lead the commission.

Yusuf, also known as Talban Wushishi, died in Abuja on Friday, August 28, 2026, following a brief illness.

His death was confirmed by the National Population Commission, which described his passing as a significant loss to the commission and the country.

Yusuf was born on April 15, 1960, in Wushishi, Niger State, and was appointed by President Tinubu as chairman of the NPC in late 2025.

He was sworn into office on December 3, 2025, alongside newly appointed Federal Commissioners Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu and Tonga Betara Bulatafa.

His appointment placed him at the helm of the government agency responsible for generating population and demographic information used in national planning, policy formulation and development programmes.

At the beginning of his tenure, Yusuf pledged to strengthen the NPC and improve its capacity to provide accurate and reliable demographic data for Nigeria’s development.

He subsequently outlined a seven-point agenda focused on institutional reforms, technological advancement and improving the commission’s effectiveness in carrying out its statutory responsibilities.

A major area of focus during his short tenure was the modernisation of Nigeria’s civil registration and vital statistics system.

In July 2026, the NPC announced the nationwide rollout of VitalReg, its digital platform for birth and death registration under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system.

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The digital platform became operational nationwide on July 1, 2026, marking a major step in the commission’s efforts to modernise the registration of births and deaths in Nigeria.

The initiative was designed to make civil registration more accessible and efficient while helping government improve the availability of reliable demographic information.

Yusuf remained actively involved in the commission’s activities until shortly before his death.

In January 2026, he led a delegation of senior NPC officials to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, as part of an advocacy campaign aimed at increasing public awareness of population issues and the importance of civil registration.

During the engagement, the NPC sought the support of traditional institutions in encouraging Nigerians to register births and deaths and participate in population-related initiatives.

Yusuf also engaged development partners and other stakeholders as part of efforts to advance the commission’s reform agenda.

Before his appointment as NPC chairman, Yusuf had accumulated experience in education, public administration, politics, grassroots mobilisation and community development.

He previously served as chairman of Wushishi Local Government Area in Niger State and was a member-elect of the Niger State House of Assembly.

He also served as a board member of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Between 2019 and 2023, Yusuf served as Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Niger State governor.

His political career also included involvement in the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign, where he served in 2022 as Assistant Director of Grassroots Mobilisation for the North Central zone of the Presidential Campaign Council.

Until his appointment to the NPC, he was the National President of the Niger State College of Education Alumni Association, Minna.

He was also involved in skills acquisition and empowerment initiatives targeting women and young people in Niger State.

Yusuf’s death comes at a critical period for the National Population Commission, which continues to play a central role in improving Nigeria’s population records and civil registration system.

Reliable population data is essential for government planning in areas such as healthcare, education, housing, infrastructure, social services and resource allocation.

His relatively short tenure nevertheless saw the commission pursue significant efforts to expand digital civil registration and strengthen its institutional framework.

The NPC said Yusuf would be remembered for his commitment to public service and his efforts to reposition the commission.

His death has also prompted mourning among colleagues, political associates and stakeholders in Niger State and beyond.

The Federal Government is expected to make arrangements for a leadership transition at the commission following his death.

For his family, colleagues and associates, Yusuf’s passing marks the loss of a public servant whose latest national assignment lasted less than a year but was marked by an ambitious push to modernise Nigeria’s population and civil registration systems.

Further details on his burial arrangements are expected to be announced by his family and relevant authorities.