We’ll Require Additional N225.2bn to Conduct National Census, NPC Tells Tinubu
*Poverty, unemployment driving more people into urban centres, president observes
*Promises support for commission on next exercise
*Charges population body on data integrity
Deji Elumoye in Abuja.
The National Population Commission (NPC), has approached President Bola Tinubu for an additional N225.2 billion to conduct a hitch-free national population and housing census in the country.
NPC Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, who tabled the request yesterday while briefing the president about the activities of the Commission at the State House, Abuja, requested the President’s approval for the additional N225.2 billion to cover training and fieldwork allowances, retraining of trainers, and the conduct of a second-class trial census.
According to a release by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, President Tinubu, while receiving the NPC team, noted that population in the urban centres across the country have continued to escalate as a result of the extreme poverty and unemployment in the rural areas.
He also pledged his unwavering support for the Commission in its task to conduct an accurate census exercise.
The president, who will personally come up with new dates for the national population and housing census that was postponed last April emphasised the need for the commission to be prudent in its assignment and work towards producing census data that would be credible and reliable.
The president also expressed concern over the delay in conducting another enumeration in the country since the last exercise done in 2006, and urged the NPC to view this delay as an opportunity to cash-in on the advantages of the current electronic and digital age.
“It is disappointing that up until now we have not been able to conduct another enumeration of our people. I hope that this delay will be converted to a great opportunity in this electronic and digital age.
“The challenge is yours and I hope that during the demarcation you did, you would have noticed the migration of people to urban centers because of the extreme poverty and unemployment.
“Digitalising the process will make your job easier and I don’t see why we don’t, by now, have a reliable database in Nigeria to identify ourselves and ascertain our numbers for planning purposes and in time of disaster.
“I have listened to you and we will support you. Accuracy and integrity of your data is very important to Nigerians and for our national economic development programmes. We will support you but you have to be prudent and be determined to make a name for yourself. Goodluck,” he said.
Earlier, the NPC Chairman noted that the Commission was on the verge of conducting the final training for the Census before they were caught up with the transition programme for a new government and funding challenges, necessitating the postponement of the exercise by the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari.
He briefed the President on the implementation status of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, requesting the issuance of a proclamation for a new Census date later this year or early next year.
Kwarra also highlighted the funding challenges faced by the Commission, saying they were waiting on the president to support NPC and give the go-ahead for the conduct of the census.
He said the commission had demarcated the entire country, stating that only one or the two places were left and that this would be done soon. He also said the commission had trained 60,000 instructors that would further train enumerators and supervisors.
