The House of Representatives Committee on Population, has made a case for the proposed national population and housing census, saying it should hold.
The committee said it was convinced that the National Population Commission, NPC, was prepared to conduct the exercise.
Speaking, on Monday, at the budget defence of House Committee on Population, Okunjimi John Odimayo, the Chairman of the Committee, appealed that the process be completed, adding that his committee was certain that the NPC is prepared for the census.
“The Commission was here this morning to present their 2023 budget performance and 2024 budget. Before this we had a two-day retreat and what I can say from this is that the Commission is more than prepared to conduct the census,” he said.
“They also itemised some major items that were purchased and it is clear to us that for the census, the Commission has gone as far as 80 percent. With what they have presented we are very convinced that they are ready for the census.
“Our appeal as legislators is that this process should be completed, we are satisfied with what we’ve seen and we are very sure that Nigeria for the first time should have a based-data that can be useful to all aspects of the economy, we are very convinced.
“Census provides an important data that promotes national planning. Some of our challenges now can be addressed if we have a concrete information of the country.”
On the alleged mismanagement of the funds allocated to the NPC in 2023, Odimayo defended the Commission, saying it spent the money on preparation activities.
According to him: “With what they have defended and presented, this money was not wasted and that on their own side they are prepared to have census.”
