National Census: Tinubu Demands Report In Three Weeks

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census and tasked its members to submit an interim report within three weeks.

Speaking at the inauguration held at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, described the upcoming national census as crucial to the country’s development.

He said the census was important for effective decision-making in key areas such as healthcare, education, security, and economic planning.

Nigeria last conducted a national census in 2006, when the population was recorded at over 140 million people.

Tinubu stressed the need for a technology-driven enumeration process that would yield credible and verifiable results.

He directed the committee to work closely with all relevant agencies, particularly the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, which he said must take ownership of the exercise.

“Work with all relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. This ministry has to take charge of this because you cannot budget if you do not know how many we are.

“We expect you will touch on the technology area because the census must be technology-driven. Things have changed since the last time that we conducted this exercise. The enumeration has to be technology-driven with biometrics and digitalisation,” he said.

In his remarks, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and chairman of the committee, assured the president that the report would be ready within the stipulated timeframe.

He recalled Tinubu’s charge to ministers during their 2023 retreat to innovate and maximise available resources, despite economic constraints.

Bagudu said despite global economic challenges, Nigeria is making steady progress under President Tinubu’s leadership, citing improved foreign exchange stability and a positive growth trajectory.

He said the committee will recommend practical solutions, including strategies for mobilising domestic and international resources to fund the census.

The Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris, also a committee member, emphasised that accurate data is critical for planning across all sectors and that a credible census is the foundation for such data.

The National Population Commission (NPC) Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, who will also serve as the committee Secretary, said the commission has already begun preparations for the national population and housing census in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and other relevant stakeholders.

According to him, the focus has been on identifying key requirements and laying the groundwork necessary for the President to make an informed decision on the actual conduct of the census.

Kwarra assured Nigerians that the National Population Commission remains committed to ensuring a credible, technology-driven enumeration that will support effective national planning and development.

The eight-member committee also includes the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Principal Secretary to the President, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff).

National Census: Tinubu Demands Report In Three Weeks is first published on The Whistler Newspaper