JUST IN: NATIONAL CENSUS EXERCISE POSTPONED INDEFINITELY (REASONS)
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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, earlier scheduled for 3-7 May 2023, to a date to be determined by the incoming Administration.
The President gave the approval after meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council and the Chairman of the National Population Commission and his team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday (28 April 2023).
The 2023 Census Manager and Director, National Population Census (NPC), Inuwa Jalingo had said there is a probability that the exercise may be postponed.
Speaking oona TV programme last night, Jalingo said validation on building numbering and counting had not been duly done to enable a credible census.
The 2023 census manager also stressed that there are a series of technical problems and issues that need to be fixed before the Commission proceeds to conduct the exercise.
“The actual counting is supposed to begin on the third of May but before that we have what we call building numbering and counting which we have not done.
“On the technical processes, before you do a census that is persons enumerations, we have what we call daily numbering and also listing, we have all information of the building and the enumeration and demarcation of the buildings.
Some buildings have been stocked up in so many places and some have been demolished, so we need to update some of the information on our database and be ready for the census and we also need to identify the building on our database and that will take seven days of training with five days field work and about two to three days of validation to ensure that there is consistency in the data.”
According to Jalingo, the counting and numbering of households and buildings is a standard framework and procedure to achieve a credible census.
“There is a global process that we need to follow to ensure that we actualize a credible census.”
He noted that the chairman of the National Population Commission will address Nigerians on further developments on the census.
“By the end of today the Commission wil have a high level consultation,and the chairman we communicate with Nigerians.
“There is a leadership in the country and census is a very good national assignment that require engagement at the highest level of governance and I think except that is done a clear message would be sent to Nigerian.”
In a statement signed by the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, “in arriving at the decision to postpone the Census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.
“The President noted that with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the country, conduct of first and second pretests, the recruitment and training of adhoc workers, procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructures, appreciable progress has been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
“He also commended the methodology being put in place by the Commission to conduct accurate and reliable Census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world class Census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses
“The President further directed the Commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in order to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate these achievements.
“The meeting was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.”
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