The Nigerian Population Commission disclosed on Saturday that it can do little until President Bola Tinubu consents to the commencement of the general census.
The population and housing census, initially scheduled for 2022, was postponed by former President Muhammadu Buhari as it coincided with electioneering campaigns for the 2023 general elections.
The exercise was eventually suspended indefinitely by Buhari, a few days before leaving office, stating that he would allow Tinubu to announce new dates for the headcount.
However, one year after assuming office, the President has yet to announce a new date.
PUNCH Online reported that about ₦200 billion was expended by the NPC Chairman, Nasir Kwarra, on preparations for the aborted 2023 population and housing census.
Speaking at the award ceremony of the Urhobo Leadership Forum held in Abuja on Saturday, a Federal Commissioner of the NPC, Mrs. Blessing Brume-Ataguba, confirmed that the commission was indeed waiting for the President’s approval to commence the exercise.
She said, “If you recall, the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari planned to have the census but had to shelve it because it fell within the same period as the general elections. He thought it wise to postpone it so as not to overload Nigerians with tasks. But as things stand today, we are primed for the census and waiting for President Bola Tinubu to make the proclamation.
“We have already constituted the security committee and our chairman, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, is a joint chairman with the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu. We are now working to constitute the security committee in the states. So we are on course.
“We are going to have the most digitalised census ever. We have already done the enumeration for every part of Nigeria. We have already categorised all the houses, areas and households. We are ready to go. We just need a little more time to do the recruitment and training for the ad hoc staff.”
According to her, they were almost 80 per cent ready for the process before the previous administration pulled the plug on the exercise.
PUNCH
