The National Population Commission (NPC) has explained why it postponed the May 3rd, 2023 population and housing census.
According to NPC, it is due to the federal government’s wisdom to conduct census when nerves have been calmed and the next President has been inaugurated.
Director, Public Affairs Department, NPC, Dr Isiaka Yahaya at a media chat in Abuja on Sunday, said having a census is an event that needs enough planning that follows due process.
This was as he urged Nigerians to dismiss misconceptions that the census was postponed due to lack of funding and preparation by the Commission.
According to him, “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.
