Following the uncertainties which beclouded the shoddy preparations of the proposed 2023 National Population and Housing Census earlier scheduled to commence in May 3 and last till May 7, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved its postponement.
Further, the postponement may not be unrelated with the yet to be resolved controversies and contentions generated by the just concluded 2023 general elections.
Consequently, President Buhari in approving the postponement, according a statement by the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, noted that the future date for the Census would be determined by the incoming administration.
The Minister explained that President Buhari 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 in Abuja on Friday (28 April 2023).
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.”
Prior to the postponement, OPTIMUM TIMES recalls that many concerned citizens have called for the postponement, arguing that apart from the fact that it was ill-timed, adequate sensitisation of the citizens has not been made on the need and usefulness of the census to convince them to buy-in to the programme.
Many critics had cited the spate of insecurity which had displaced most people from their places of residence and canvassed that President Buhari administration should not preside over the Census but rather the incoming administration should take its time to prepare and conduct the census
See the full statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT
President Buhari Approves Postponement of 2023 Census
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 in Abuja on Friday (28 April 2023).
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.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
Honourable Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
29th April 2023
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