Alhaji Nasir Kwarra, Executive Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC) on Monday inaugurated the Population Advisory Group (PAG) to drive implementation of the Revised National Population Policy (NPP).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Population Policy (NPP) aims to improved the quality of life and standard of living of everyone in Nigeria.
Inaugurating the group, Kwarra tasked the members to support the National Council on Population Management (NCPM) to drive implementation of the Revised National Population Policy.
“The PAG is a laudable group saddled with the responsibility of advising the National Population Commission and National Council on Population Management
“On the most appropriate way to coordinate the implementation of the National Population Policy and to manage population,” he said.
The Executive Chairman, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for launch of the National Population Policy, said it was vital in improving the quality of lives in Nigeria.
Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said that at the occasion that the Revised National Population Policy was an innovative and transformative document that required the support of stakeholders.
Mustapha, who was represented by Malam Shehu Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) urged the members to live up to expectation.
On behalf of the Federal Government he expressed gratitude to UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and other international donors for their support to Nigeria.
The SGF, who urged the UNFPA and its partners to sustain their support, expressed Nigeria’s commitment to achieving quality population.
Ms Ulla Mueller, Country Representative, UN Population Fund (UNFPA) described the inauguration as a great step towards mobilising resources for the implementation of National Population Policy.
Mueller, who was represented by Dr Collins Opiyo, Chief Technical Adviser to National Population Commission and official of UNFPA, said that the inauguration demonstrate the country’s commitment towards harnessing the potential of young people.
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Dr Durunguwa Abdulmalik, Chairman Population Management and Development (PMDD), said that coordination and full implementation of National Population Policy required a holistic advisory guide.
While congratulating the members of the group, he described them as persons with intellectual capacity and proven integrity capable of rendering for fruitful advice to NPC.
Responding, Mr Usman Sarki, on behalf of the members of the group thanked NPC for finding them credible enough to serve in the group and affirmed their commitment to deliver on their mandate.
NAN reports that going by the National Population Policy (NPP) provisions, the Population Advisory Group (PAG) has 15 members and chosen from different spectrum of the society.
The Chairman of the group is the Executive Chairman, National Population Commission with eminent persons in the field of population development constituting the membership. The membership of the group reflected geo-political spread and gender considerations.
(NAN)
