House of Representatives to scrutinize N200 billion expenditure on postponed 2023 census

The House of Representatives has announced its intention to investigate the N200 billion allocated to the postponed 2023 census by the National Population Commission (NPC). The decision to probe the NPC’s expenditure was reached unanimously during the plenary session on Wednesday. This initiative is based on a motion jointly sponsored by Representative Dominic Okafor from APGA-Anambra and Representative Patrick Umoh from APC-Akwa Ibom.

Representative Okafor, who presented the motion, emphasized the importance of a census in providing accurate population data essential for development planning, policy formulation, resource allocation, and government program implementation. He underlined the significance of a census, especially at a time when the Federal Government, in collaboration with state governments, is working on providing assistance to vulnerable citizens and planning various social services.

The NPC is mandated to conduct periodic census surveys and employ various methods to enumerate the country’s population, supplying data for national planning and economic development. The last national census in Nigeria took place in 2006, and the 2023 census, originally scheduled for May 2023, was postponed by the Commission.

Representative Okafor pointed out that the data collected in the 2006 census is no longer reflective of the current population, making it an insufficient basis for forming national economic policies. He also noted that the NPC had already expended N200 billion of the N800 billion budgeted for planning and executing the 2023 population and housing census, which was subsequently postponed.

The representative argued that this financial investment could have significantly improved economic planning and the distribution of palliatives throughout the country. Delaying the census by more than 12 months would render the gathered information obsolete, leading to wasted resources and increased costs for acquiring new data.

Notably, the Chairman of the Commission, Nasir Kwarra, had expressed readiness to conduct a population and housing census during a visit to President Bola Tinubu on July 6, 2023.

In response to the situation, the House of Representatives called upon President Bola Tinubu to set a date for the 2023 population and housing census to facilitate accurate economic planning. The house also urged the Federal Government to establish Census Tribunals in designated centers once a census date is determined, in compliance with Section 28 of the National Population Commission Act of 2004.

Furthermore, the lawmakers encouraged the NPC to remain diligent in its preparations for the 2023 population and housing census.

To facilitate this investigation, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, assigned the Committee on Population the task of scrutinizing the expenses related to the postponed 2023 population census. The committee was also instructed to collaborate with the NPC to ensure a successful population and housing census upon its proclamation.