Nigerians have been reassured by the Senate that the eagerly anticipated population and housing census, set for November 2024, will proceed according to plan
The majority of the nominees are individuals running for office for the second time, according to Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), the chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, who was speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, February 7, during the screening of 17 of the 19 commissioner-nominees for the National Population Commission, NPC.
“It is a renomination, and we have perused their credentials presented in the first instance, compared to the ones they. have just presented.”
140 million people were counted in the National Population Commission’s 2006 census, which was the most recent one
Another census was scheduled to be conducted in 2022 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari; however, it was ultimately rescheduled for 2023.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, greeted the first baby born in Abuja in 2024 on January 1
A few days before he left office, Buhari, however, announced that the headcount would be halted indefinitely and that President Bola Tinubu would be free to set new dates.
Tinubu has said that his administration will support the upcoming census, citing its necessity in important areas of national planning.
Ningi continued by pointing out that Nigeria had not held a census in the previous eleven years and that carrying out the procedure depends entirely on the administration’s political will.
“We are almost 11 years without taking the United Nations resolution on population, which comes almost every seven years.
“I am sure that with the political will, this is possible, it’s doable, the commission is ready, and the personnel are ready. All we need to do is wait for 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 the population census. Seventy-five percent of the logistics, in terms of machines and in terms of personnel training, 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 a 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.
“This is because we are going to face the national census. And you have been selected because of your pedigree, your experience, and your exposure to the system.
“It is very imperative while you are on that duty, we must see ourselves as Nigerians. There is no basis for any competition; whether there are more Hausa people than Igbo people or Yoruba than Tivs.
“That is not the essence of population count. The essence is to be able to develop a mechanism where we lay a developmental plan that will meet the aspirations of our peoples.”
Nigeria should take note of the Senate’s promise that the 2024 census will take place on time. For several reasons, such as policy formation, infrastructure development, and resource allocation, census data is essential.
Ensuring the census proceeds according to schedule gives the government access to precise demographic data, which is necessary for efficient governance and development projects.
The Senate is committed to openness and accountability in governance and an understanding of the significance of accurate data for decision-making processes by reaffirming its commitment to carrying out the census on time.
