Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, the Speaker of the House, voiced his worries about the ongoing delay in the national population census.
He highlighted how crucial it is for understanding Nigeria’s actual population numbers.
While in Abuja, during a visit from the National Population Commission’s (NPC) board and management, led by Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra and Dr. Ojogun Tellson Osifo, he emphasized the urgent need for a biometric census.
He backed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s plan for the NPC to carry out a biometric census in 2025.
Abbas labeled the 19-year wait since the last census as unacceptable for a nation of Nigeria’s magnitude.
“A census will clear up doubts from critics claiming the population is inflated,” Abbas remarked, adding that “statistics don’t lie.”
He pointed out that employing a biometric system is vital for collecting accurate population data efficiently.
To speed things up, Speaker Abbas shared his intention to meet with President Tinubu after discussing it with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“I’ll engage with Mr. President about conducting the census this year,” Abbas mentioned, noting that the Federal Government may need to find alternative funding, like tapping into the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), due to the NPC’s budget shortfall.
He suggested that this census could mark a significant milestone for Nigeria and serve as a lasting legacy for President Tinubu.
Earlier, NPC Chairman Hon. Kwarra updated the Speaker on the Commission’s readiness, covering technology acquisition, staff recruitment and training, setting up a situation room, and outreach with former Presidents and ex-Heads of State.
Kwarra requested support from the National Assembly, especially regarding securing necessary funding and passing relevant laws to ensure the successful execution of the census.