By Bukola Kayode
President Bola Tinubu on Monday said he would set up a committee to align the census budget to the government’s present financial realities.
This followed a meeting at the State House, Abuja, where officials of the National Population Commission led by the Chairman, Nasir Kwarra, briefed the President.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed details of the meeting in a statement on Monday.
Disclosing the details of the meeting in a statement titled ‘Nigeria moves closer to fresh census, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, highlighted the challenges facing the National Population Commission.
According to him, since its last census in November 2006, Nigeria’s housing and population census has faced repeated delays and logistical hurdles, despite NPC’s investment in new technology to enhance accuracy and transparency.
He listed inadequate funding, insecurity, and the onset of COVID-19 as some of the issues that contributed to the series of postponements of the exercise.
He explained further that the 2023 census was deferred due to budget constraints and political transitions.
“This stop-and-go activity on the census cannot work with me. So we better have a definite path,” Tinubu said at the meeting.
“I will set up a committee for you to look at the issues critically and do a source and application of resources.
“Where can we get help, and what can we lift before we embark on proclamation?”
“We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data.
“Without an accurate census, we can’t successfully plan for employment, agriculture, and food sovereignty.
“So many problems come up without accurate data,” he said.
President Tinubu empasised that accurate and reliable figures from the national census would strengthen development planning and improve Nigerians’ living conditions.
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