Population Commission Boss Defends 2026 Budget, Faults 2025 Fund Release

Chairman of the National Population Commission, Aminu Yusuf, has defended the commission’s 2026 budget proposal before the House of Representatives, lamenting the non-release of its 2025 capital allocation.

Yusuf spoke yesterday during an appearance before the House of Representatives Committee on Population and National Identity Card at the National Assembly Complex while presenting the commission’s 2025 budget performance and 2026 estimates.

He disclosed that N18.28 billion was appropriated for the commission’s capital expenditure in 2025 but noted that none of the funds had been released.

According to him, the situation stalled several planned programmes and projects of the commission.

“The non-release of the 2025 capital funds negatively impacted our programmes. We were unable to implement several critical projects due to financial constraints,” Yusuf said.

He explained that the commission had to depend solely on its recurrent budget, which he said restricted its operational capacity, including infrastructure upgrade, expansion of activities and execution of strategic initiatives.

The NPC chairman stressed the need for adequate funding and timely release of budgetary allocations, especially as the commission intensifies preparations for the forthcoming national Population and Housing Census as well as ongoing Civil Registration and Vital Statistics activities.

Yusuf appeared before the committee alongside Federal Commissioner representing Anambra State, Nze Chidi Christopher Ezeoke; Federal Commissioner representing Benue State, Barr. Patricia Iyanya Kupchi; directors of the commission and members of the chairman’s senior technical team.

The committee chairman, Okunjimi Odimayo, expressed concern over the failure to release capital funds to the commission, warning that such lapses could undermine institutional planning and performance.

Odimayo urged the federal government to put measures in place to ensure timely and adequate disbursement of funds for the commission’s 2026 capital budget to enable it meet its statutory responsibilities.