A Second Postponement Of 2023 Census Looms

EKO HOT BLOG reports that there are strong indications that the national population and housing census in Nigeria, slated for May 3 to 5, might once again be postponed due to a lack of funds.

The National Population Commission (NPC) is reportedly struggling to raise the required funds for logistics and other preparations, which may result in a further delay of the exercise.

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The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, had earlier disclosed in March that the Federal Government planned to establish a basket fund to collect donations for the 2023 population and housing census.

Out of a total of N869 billion proposed by the commission, the government had committed N291.5 billion, leaving a need for an additional N327.2 billion.

The total requirement for the census, including post-census activities, is N869bn ($1.88bn). The census requirement alone is N626bn ($1.36bn), which is about $6 per capita. The post-census (up to 2025) requires N243bn ($527m). The government has committed N291.5bn ($632m) to the census, making it 46 per cent of the total funding for the census. An additional sum of N327.2bn ($709.9m) is required to complete the census.

The last census in Nigeria was conducted in 2006, and the previous government proposed another census for 2016 in line with the UN recommendation for the decennial census.

However, the administration exited in 2015 without accomplishing the wish. From 2015 to 2016, the country slipped into recession due to the crash in oil prices and production. In 2018/2019, the government recommitted to the conduct of the census. In 2020, COVID-19 disrupted plans for the exercise.

The census was rescheduled for March 2023, but now recommended to hold in May 2023. In 2021/2022, funds were appropriated for the census. The census was initially planned for 2022, but was moved to 2023 after the elections.

However, due to a lack of funds, the 2023 census might be shifted by another week or two. According to reports, training slated for the exercise was cancelled earlier this week, and no new date had been fixed for the training of ad hoc workers at the local government level, as the earlier scheduled programme was postponed last week. About 467 ad hoc staff members of the NPC in Bauchi State also protested last week, alleging unpaid allowances.

The NPC Chairman, Nasir Kwarra, and the top management of the commission were reviewing the situation and might advise President Muhammadu Buhari on the likely postponement of the census after the Sallah holidays.

The decision on whether to go ahead or postpone the census is expected to be made by mid-next week after Buhari’s approval. However, any likely postponement might be for one or two weeks, as the President sees the conduct of the census as one of his regime’s legacy projects and would want it done before he exits power on May 29.

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The minister urged members of the private sector to donate cash or offer to buy some of the materials needed for the census. The census is critical for Nigeria’s development as it will help the government plan and allocate resources efficiently and make informed decisions.