5 days Ago By NewsDirect
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a high-level committee tasked with overseeing Nigeria’s long-awaited national population and housing census, marking nearly two decades since the country’s last headcount.In a statement released on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President directed the committee to submit an interim report within three weeks.The inauguration, held at the State House in Abuja, was conducted on Tinubu’s behalf by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Addressing the gathering, Gbajabiamila conveyed the President’s insistence on a credible and technology-driven census as a cornerstone for effective policymaking and national development.He urged full cooperation among all relevant government bodies and called for an inclusive funding strategy, combining both domestic and international sources, to support the exercise.“Collaborate closely with agencies such as the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
That ministry must lead the charge because effective budgeting begins with accurate data on our population,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.“The census must leverage modern technology. Enumeration should incorporate biometric data and digital platforms.
A lot has changed since the last census, and integrity is paramount,” he added.Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and chair of the committee, pledged that the interim report would be ready within the deadline. He recalled the President’s ongoing advocacy for innovation in governance, even amid tight economic conditions.
Bagudu remarked that despite global financial headwinds, Nigeria is making steady progress under the current administration, pointing to gains in currency stability and a more optimistic economic outlook.Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris, echoed these sentiments, stating that reliable demographic data is essential for responsive governance, economic planning, and equitable resource distribution.Nasir Kwarra, Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), who will serve as secretary of the committee, confirmed that substantial groundwork had already been laid in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
He assured Nigerians of the Commission’s readiness to deliver a fully digital, transparent, and internationally compliant census.The eight-member committee includes the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service; the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission; the Principal Secretary to the President; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations, Office of the Chief of Staff.Nigeria’s last census was conducted in 2006, which placed the country’s population at just over 140 million.
This upcoming census is seen as crucial to updating national data that will influence everything from electoral planning to infrastructure development.The post Tinubu launches high-level committee to steer first national census in nearly 20 years appeared first on Nigerian NewsDirect..
