2023 Census: N200bn already spent on preparation — NPC discloses
…Insists census not cancelled, only postponed
…Says only N224bn of N800bn released by FG
As controversies and doubt continue to surround the possibility of holding the 2023 population and housing census, after a postponement was foisted nullifying the earlier scheduled date, the National Population Commission (NPC) has disclosed that over N200 billion has been spent so far for preparation for the exercise.
Chairman of the Commission, Nasir Isa-Kwarra made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday at a breakfast meeting with media executives in preparation for the 2023 population and housing census.
The NPC boss further stated that although N800 billion was budgeted for the census, the Federal Government has only allocated N224 billion for the exercise.
“What we have been able to expend is about N200 billion. So, the N800 billion is a budget and that budget covers the cost of conducting census in Nigeria. It is not that government has given us N800 billion but it is a budget and we believe that we may spend up to that or we may not spend up to that.
“To be straightforward, the federal government has actually provided N224 billion which we have utilised for the census so far,” he said.
The NPC boss hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to postpone the census, saying that it is the right decision to make amidst processes of power transition to another administration.
On security, he assured Nigerians that the Commission would conduct the census in a serene and secure environment despite security threats from different parts of the Country.
Speaking on same note, the Federal Commissioner representing Oyo State, NPC, and Chairman Public Affairs Committee, Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji, said the census was not cancelled but only postponed and that preparations still continued.
“The census process continues. Even though it has been postponed and rescheduled, we want to make a statement that it has not been cancelled, the process is continuing.”
He said, “When President Muhammadu Buhari announced the postponement, he also charged us to continue activities while allowing the incoming government to become part of the process and own the process.
“We want to assure Nigerians that the preparations that have been made and money spent is secure, they are not wasted, we will continue to work towards the success of the exercise.”
Recall that the NPC had late April announced the postponement of the population and housing census earlier scheduled for May 3rd, 2023, citing it was in view of the Federal Government’s wisdom for the exercise to hold after the inauguration of the new administration and after nerves from the general elections must have been calmed.
Director, Public Affairs Department, NPC, Dr Isiaka Yahaya at a media chat had said having a census is an event that needs enough planning that follows due process.
“The census was not postponed but was rescheduled, because preparations for the census have begun already.
“Some are having the misconception that the census was postponed due to the Commission’s lack of preparation. I want to let Nigerians know that we are prepared and we have done everything that we need to do to deliver this census starting from the enumeration/demarcation, first and second pre-test and the trial census. So, the issue of our preparedness is out of it.
“The responsibility for the funding of the census is that of the Federal Government of Nigeria and they have lived up to expectations in financing all the preparations. And I know that if there was a consensus to proceed with the census, the money will come. We should be very clear that it’s not an issue of funding.
“The Federal Government has the power to decide whether the census will take place or not. This is a massive exercise and the decision cannot be only for the Commission to make. Hence, the Federal Government has felt in its wisdom to postpone it.
“The Federal Government might have thought that the conduct of the census is a process. If the nation uses the data for planning then it has to be done well. If the Census is conducted by one government and another government will have the responsibility of utilising it, it won’t be a smooth synergy and transition.
“Fixing the census after the election, we felt the healing process that we hoped after the election everyone must have accepted the fate. But the rescheduling of the governorship election, limited the period available for this healing process to happen. The Federal Government in its discretion must have felt to carry out the census after the inauguration of the new administration and after nerves have been calmed,” he had said.
Yahaya had also noted that the nation is not losing anything by postponing the census but gained a lot by having extra time to continue preparations to have an effective data that will aid planning.
“The kind of preparations we have made for census are so effective to the extent that if we don’t conduct the census now, those infrastructures and facilities we have put in place, will make it successful. The nation is not losing anything substantial from the census postponement,” he said.
On same page, the NPC Census Manager, Dr. Inuwa Jalingo, boasted that the Commission is technically ready to implement the census and that preparation for the exercise continues.
“We have created the necessary system that is required to implement a digital census. Starting from our software development, which we have developed for the enumeration area demarcation.
“For the success of the census, we have developed systems whereby it doesn’t allow the enumerators go beyond the boundaries in which they are expected to enumerate. So the issue of overlap or under coverage has been taken care of in our planning for this census,” he mentioned.
Jalingo further disclosed that salaries of the adhoc staff of the Commission have been put on hold.
