Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to establish a committee to align the census budget with the current financial realities of the government. This announcement was made during a meeting with officials from the National Population Commission (NPC) at the State House, Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the NPC Chairman, Mr. Nasir Kwarra, and other members were present to brief the President on the progress of the census exercise. President Tinubu emphasized the importance of involving the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in the review process, noting that the last census took place in November 2006. He stressed the necessity of accurate data for effective planning in areas such as employment, agriculture, and food sovereignty.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to obtaining accurate and reliable figures from the national census to enhance development planning and improve living conditions in Nigeria through more efficient social security systems. He pointed out that government incentives, such as the distribution of fertilizers, could be optimized with more reliable demographic data.
The President underscored the need for biometric capturing to be a central component of the census process, incorporating multiple identification features like facial and voice recognition. He highlighted the importance of financial preparedness before seeking support from development partners and expressed his intention to set up a committee to critically evaluate resources for the census.
Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, reiterated the central role of census data in future planning and resource distribution. He assured the President of the government’s commitment to conducting the census, despite funding challenges. Bagudu revealed that development partners contributed 40% of the funding for the 2006 census and mentioned ongoing ecosystem meetings aimed at integrating identity agencies.
In his remarks, the NPC chairman highlighted that the 19-year gap since the last census has rendered previous data obsolete for planning, particularly in key sectors affecting the population. He mentioned that 760,000 tablets have been acquired and stored with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and assured that the commission would engage with development partners for support once President Tinubu officially announces the new census.