The Senate has approved the 2025 budget proposal of the National Population Commission,while reaffirming the need for immediate action to ensure Nigeria conducts a credible national census in 2025.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity Card and Population, Sen. Abdul Ahmed Ningi who disclosed this commended the NPC chairman Hon. Isa Kwarra for outstanding performance, dedication and tireless efforts in preparing for the next census.
Senator Ningi stated this today when the NPC Chairman defended the Commission’s 2024 Budget Performance and proposed budget for 2025 before the Senate Committee on National Identity Card and Population at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The lawmaker underscored the public’s expectation for reliable and up-to-date census data that is crucial for evidence-based planning and sustainable development.
Sen. Ningi further highlighted the importance of census data to national development and expressed the willingness of the Senate to support the NPC in engaging with President Tinubu to fix the date for the national exercise.
“We will soon engage the President on this matter and formally write to him through the Senate President.
“We understand your limitations, but leveraging National Assembly support, we will convince Mr. President to prioritise the conduct of the census.
“We are not going to rest on our oars until census takes place,” he said.
Sen. Ningi also expressed confidence that President Tinubu will issue proclamation for the conduct of the census exercise this year, emphasizing its significance in addressing social economic challenges, including insecurity.
Other speakers including the Deputy Minority Leader and Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Olalere Oyewumi lamented Nigeria’s reliance on foreign data sources like UNICEF, World Bank, UNFPA for planning, stating “For almost twenty years, we have been using population estimates without credible data.”
He stressed the urgency of meeting with President Tinubu to convey the importance of the next census.
Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal pledged the support of the Senate Committee in assisting the Commission to conduct the next census and other activities.
Sen. Diket Plang also voiced the commitment of the Senate to support the NPC in conducting the census, highlighting the detrimental effects of prolonged delays on national credibility.
Meanwhile,the Chairman, National Population Commission NPC, Hon.Isa during his presentation affirmed that the next Population and Housing Census will be a biometric-based to ensure accuracy and credibility, aligning with the recommendations of the 2030 round of censuses and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Kwarra stated that Nigeria had missed out on the 2020 round of censuses and is now focused on the 2030 round of censuses, which has a new methodology.
The NPC Chairman explained that the Commission needs to integrate the biometric features into the existing digital framework for the next census and test run its interoperability before the exercise.
Kwarra acknowledged the Senate Committee’s support in amending the NPC’s existing laws to reflect the recent digitization of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) and the Census processes.
He reiterated the Commission’s readiness to conduct the next census, stating that the NPC will continue to work with the National Assembly to ensure timely conduct of the exercise.