Thursday, February 8, 2024 - The Senate has assured Nigerians that the much-awaited population and housing census slated for November 2024 will be held as scheduled.
Speaking in Abuja during the screening of 17 of the 19 commissioner-nominees for the National Population Commission, NPC, on Wednesday, February 7, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), said most of the nominees are people coming for the second time.
“It is a renomination and we have perused
their credentials presented in the first instance, compared to the ones they.
have just presented.”
The last census was conducted in 2006, by
the National Population Commission, which gave a population figure of 140
million.
The immediate past administration of former
President Muhammadu Buhari had planned to conduct another census in 2022 but
the programme was later moved to 2023.
The exercise was, however, suspended
indefinitely by Buhari, a few days before leaving office, saying he would allow
President Bola Tinubu to announce new dates for the headcount.
Recently, Tinubu pledged his
administration’s support for the next census, saying it is necessary in crucial
aspects of national planning.
Speaking further, Ningi, who noted that
conducting the exercise is all about political will by the government, noted
that Nigeria had not conducted a census in the last 11 years.
“We are almost 11 years without
taking the United Nations resolution on population which comes almost every
seven years.
“I am sure with the political will, this is
possible, it’s doable, the commission is ready, the personnel are ready. All we
need do is the announcement by the President that the population census is
coming on a date and once he says it, the international observers will now come
in with their support.
“Without the President’s declaration, no
one will send a kobo to Nigeria to support population census. Seventy-five per
cent of the logistics in terms of machines, in terms of training of the
personnel have been completed
“All we need to do is for the President to
have the political will, and commitment to say the census is taking place and
we cannot postpone it.”
“That is why it is difficult now to
ascertain the exact population. Even pro-rata, how many are Nigerians because
of lack of political will,” Ningi said.
“The nominees should realise the importance
of the assignment before them. The last time we had a national census was more
than a decade ago.
“No nation improves nor develops without
knowing its number and therefore, this is a unique assignment that the nominees
will face in due course.
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