The federal government has clarified that the newly inaugurated Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census is a temporary technical body created to identify funding sources and develop strategies to support Nigeria’s long-awaited national census.
This clarification was made by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle in Abuja.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who chairs the committee, explained at the inaugural meeting that its primary task is to provide expert advice on financing, institutional coordination, and timeline development for the upcoming enumeration.
Bagudu said the committee is separate from the National Population Commission (NPC), the statutory body responsible for planning and executing population and housing censuses in Nigeria. According to him, the committee was established as an advisory group to provide targeted guidance in areas relating to census preparation and funding.
The committee, inaugurated last week by President Bola Tinubu, comprises key officials drawn from strategic federal institutions. Members include the Chairman of the NPC, Mr. Nasir Kwarra, who serves as the committee secretary; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris; Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zach Adedeji; Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Ms. Bisoye Coker-Odusote; Principal Private Secretary to the President, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration (Office of the Chief of Staff), Mr. Temilola Adekunle-Johnson.
According to Bagudu, the committee’s mandate is strictly defined by its five-point terms of reference. These include a detailed review of the current census budget to align it with national priorities and fiscal realities, and identification of feasible funding options from domestic and international sources. The committee is also tasked with crafting a comprehensive resource mobilisation strategy involving development partners, international agencies, and the domestic private sector.
In addition, the committee will evaluate NPC’s technical readiness and logistics to identify areas requiring immediate support. It will also recommend a practical and realistic date for the national headcount, taking into account funding, security, and other relevant considerations.
Speaking on the significance of the assignment, Bagudu described the national census as a major sovereign investment that underpins effective policy planning. “A national census is not a routine administrative exercise; it is a sovereign investment in evidence.
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