The Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population, has paid a condolence visit to the National Population Commission (NPC) at its headquarters in Abuja to commiserate with the Commission over the death of its chairman, Dr. Aminu Yusuf.
The Committee led by its Chairman, Senator Dr. Victor Umeh, yesterday, was received by the Federal Commissioner representing Plateau State and currently overseeing the office of the Chairman, Hon. Mrs. Mary Ishaya Afan, alongside other Federal Commissioners, the Director-General, and management staff of the Commission.
Dr. Yusuf died on August 28, 2026, barely a year after his screening and confirmation by the Senate, reports Daily Independent.
In his condolence message, Senator Umeh described the news of Dr. Yusuf’s death as a profound shock, recounting that he first learned of it through a Facebook post.
“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,” Umeh said.
He recalled his last meeting with the late Chairman on July 28 during the World Population Day celebration, which he attended despite the Senate being on recess.
“I had to fly from the East to come and attend that event and left the next day. The planning and execution was very wonderful, and he didn’t show any sign of sickness.
“He saw me off to the car when I was going. So you can imagine my trauma hearing that Dr. Aminu Yusuf is gone.”
Senator Umeh praised the late chairman as a humble and dedicated public servant who maintained excellent relations with the National Assembly since his confirmation in October 2025.
“Aminu Yusuf was a gentleman. Somebody who will never complain, even in the midst of difficulties in the task he was doing here,” Umeh said.
“While we were looking forward to him leading this Commission to conduct the much-awaited National Census, he did not live to discharge that assignment.”
He noted that the Committee, on behalf of the Senate President, His Excellency Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, and the entire National Assembly, extended its deepest condolences to the Commission and the bereaved family.
He was joined by Senators Khabeeb Mustapha (Jigawa Southwest) and Peter Jiya (Niger South), among others.
Senator Mustapha offered prayers for the peaceful repose of Dr. Yusuf’s soul.
Responding on behalf of the Commission, Hon. Mrs. Afan expressed gratitude to the Senate Committee for the visit, acknowledging that the 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 described the late Chairman as a visionary leader who came into office with a seven-point agenda and had already begun repositioning the Commission.
“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.”
Mrs. Afan assured the Senate Committee that the Commission would remain committed to the national census and would continue to follow Dr. Yusuf’s footsteps to ensure his vision is realised. “Chairman has died, but his legacies are still living.”
Senator Umeh later led the Committee members to sign the condolence register in honour of the deceased.
