The House of Representatives has announced that it has decided to investigate the Nigerian Population Commission’s expenditure of the N800 billion authorised by the Federal Government for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
This decision followed the approval of a motion put forward by the member representing Aguta Federal Constituency in Anambra State, Mr. Dominic Okafor.
Titled, “Need to investigate the expenditure on the postponed 2023 Population and Housing Census by the National Population Commission and Conduct of the National Population/Housing Census
Leading the debate on the motion, Okafor noted that census provides accurate population data crucial for development planning, policy formulation, resource allocation, and government program implementation, “Especially at a time when the Federal Government in conjunction with State Governments are working on giving palliatives to vulnerable citizens and also planning other social services”
Okafor also emphasized that the Nigerian Population Commission has a responsibility to carry out regular censuses, surveys, and various enumeration methods to gather essential population data for national planning and economic growth.
He noted that the last national census in Nigeria took place in 2006 and expressed regret that the proposed 2023 budget for this crucial task had been delayed by the agency responsible for enumerating the population for the advancement of the nation.
Okafor added that despite the postponement, NPC “Has admitted to have spent N200bn as part of the N800bn budgeted for the planning mid-execution of the 2023 population and housing census, which was postponed.”
The legislator stressed that the funds allocated to the delayed 2023 budget could have significantly improved the lives of numerous Nigerians and enhanced the equitable distribution of relief aid across the nation.
In the interest of national development, Okafor called upon President Bola Tinubu to set a date for the census to take place, emphasizing that failing to do so would render the previously collected data for the population census obsolete.
In support of the motion to investigate the Nigerian Population Commission’s expenditure, even though the census has been postponed, Usman Jaha, a member of the House representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency, informed the House that it’s not feasible to conduct a population census in light of the security challenges in the North-East, North-West, North-Central, and other parts of the country.
The House, in its decision, omitted the request for the President to specify a date for the census and instead opted to scrutinize the financial allocations related to the postponed census.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, referred the motion to the Committee on Population for appropriate guidance.