NPC pushes for domestic funding as donor support declines

By Joy Baba-Yesufu

The National Population Commission (NPC) has called for a strategic shift toward domestic financing of population programmes, warning that declining donor support could undermine Nigeria’s development planning and health outcomes.

This position was highlighted at the unveiling of the report from the 13th Annual Population Lecture Series (APLS 13), where the Commission stressed the urgency of reducing reliance on external funding and strengthening local resource mobilisation.

Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Yusuf Aminu, said the report reflects growing concerns over funding gaps, weak data systems, and the broader implications of changing global funding dynamics on Nigeria’s population and health programmes.

The report, themed “Emerging Global Funding Realities: Impact on Population Activities and the Need for Innovative Domestic Resource Mobilization,” noted that development partner contributions currently accounting for about 11.6 per cent of national health expenditure are becoming increasingly uncertain.

According to the Commission, while Nigeria’s fertility rate has declined modestly, it remains high at approximately 4.8 children per woman, with disparities driven by differences in education and access to family planning services.

The Commission further called for greater private sector participation, stronger implementation of population policies at the state level, and increased investment in youth development, particularly in health, data innovation, and enterprise.

It emphasised that Nigeria’s youthful population can only translate into economic gains through sustained investments in education, healthcare, and job creation.

Speaking on census preparedness, the Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Osifo-Tellson Ojogun, described the process as ongoing, noting that readiness remains “relative” due to logistical, financial, and technical considerations.

He disclosed that prior to the suspension of the 2023 census, the Commission had reached an advanced stage of preparation, including the demarcation of about 630,000 Enumeration Areas, development of questionnaires, and procurement of digital devices.

Ojogun added that the Commission is currently reviewing its strategy in line with new recommendations, with a focus on delivering a credible, technology-driven census.

Also speaking, Federal Commissioner at the NPC, Barrister Patricia Iyanya Kupchi described the APLS 13 report as a strategic roadmap for Nigeria’s demographic resilience.

She noted that the report underscores the need for national ownership of population programmes, a transition from donor dependence, and the adoption of data-driven governance to support effective planning.

Kupchi also highlighted the importance of empowering Nigeria’s youth population, describing it as a critical driver of economic growth rather than a burden.