BREAKING NEWS, Politics
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The proposed 2016 national census will cost Nigeria a whopping N273 billion, according to National Population Commission
| By Anayo Ezugwu | Aug 24, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT |
THE National Population Commission, NPC, requires a total of N273 billion to successfully conduct the 2016 national census. It will also need N10 billion immediately to commence work in line with the recommendations of the United Nations. Eze Duru Iheoma, chairman, NPC, stated this during a courtesy visit the President Mohammadu Buhari.
The commission is proposing a biometric-based census that would eliminate multiple respondents, ghost respondents and make the outcome easy to audit.
Responding, President Buhari charged the commission, the National Identity Management Commission, the Federal Road Safety Commission, the Independent National Electoral Commission, among others to harmonise the biometric data of all Nigerians. According to the President, the harmonised system would cut cost and also give credibility to the country’s electoral process.
He wondered why each agency would gather its own biometric data, when such data could easily be shared. “It will be more cost effective if you work together. It helps even the credibility of the election process, as Nigerians of voting age can be identified easily,” Buhari said, adding that instead of the agencies going in different directions, adequate data was necessary for planning and development in any country.
The NPC had earlier last month hinted that the conduct of the population census and head count for all Nigerians scheduled for 2016 would depend on the willingness of Nigerians and the federal government because of poor budgetary allocation. The commission also called for a review of the National Policy on Population to accommodate current realities in view of recent changes in the demographic profile of the country. NPC said, “The review is to assess the performance of the programmes outlined in the policy and also to respond to emerging national and international issues in population and development. We are currently leading the review process.”
Iheoma said if indeed Nigerians want the conduct of 2016 national census, they must demand for it, just like they did during the recently concluded general elections. He said over N200 billion would be required to carry out the census exercise that would be universally acceptable to correct the mistakes of the past. “I want to remind us that censuses are supposed to be held between five and 10 years after the previous one. Now, the previous census in Nigeria took place in 2006. A maximum of 10 years will take us to 2016. That is why we are sticking to the 2016 date. That is when the next census is due in this country.
“Population census is an exercise that involves Nigerians. Look at the way Nigerians reacted to the last (2015) election. They demanded that they wanted it; the next thing after the elections ought to be the national census. We want it to be in the consciousness of Nigerians. The last one took place in 2006. Ten years after, we want to know how many we are. Our duty here in the NPC is to help Nigerians realise this goal. We are ready to heed the call of Nigerians. Whatever they want us to do; we will carry out their wish. If they want us to carry out the exercise, we will.”
It could be recalled that Festus Odumegwu, former chairman of NPC, was removed in 2013 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, following comments credited to him that previous national censuses figures were inflated to favour the northern parts of the country.
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