His parents were Yefim Fyodorovich Nikolayev and Maria Mikhaylovna Nikolayeva (maiden name — Kozlova).

Nikolayev began his career in 1961 after graduating from Omsk State Agrarian University as a veterinarian in the Zhigansky district.

[citation needed] From 1969 to 1971, he studied at the Higher Party School at the Central Committee of the CPSU.

From 1985 to 1989 he was the Secretary of the Yakut Regional Committee of the CPSU, overseeing the issues of the agro-industrial complex.

[citation needed] In December 1989, he was elected Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the YASSR.

Member of the State Duma Committee on Regional Policy and the Problems of the North and the Far East.

[citation needed] By decision of the Head of the Republic Egor Borisov on 31 October,[when?]