SENATE, HOUSE OF REPS APPROVE NPC 2024 BUDGET ESTIMATES, PASS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE ON COMMISSION TO CONDUCT NEXT CENSUS

Both the Upper and Lower Chambers of National Assembly have passed a vote of confidence on the National Population Commission's readiness to conduct the first digital Population and Housing Census in Nigeria during the Commission’s 2024 budget defence at National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

The House of Representatives Committee on Population first approved the Commission’s 2024 Budget estimates before Sen. Abdul Ningi led Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population passed the same NPC’s 2024 budget proposal two days later at the National Assembly.

Chairman of National Population Commission, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra was accompanied by Federal Commissioners, Director-General and Directors of the Commission to successfully defend the NPC’s 2024 Budget proposal before the House Committee on Population and the Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population at the National Assembly.

However, both the Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population and the House Committee on Population were satisfied with the status of implementation for the next Population and Housing Census and called on President Tinubu to urgently fix a date for the conduct of the next census exercise to avoid losing the successes achieved in the build-up to the next census and save the materials procured for the census from going obsolete.

Satisfied with the evidence available on the preparations so far for the conduct of the upcoming Population and Housing Census, the Chairman of House Committee on Population, Hon OkunJimi Odimayo said while briefing journalists after the NPC’s budget defence at the House of Representatives complex in Abuja that he would invite the Commission to attend the plenary to explain to the larger House on the arrangements so far made on the Population and Housing Census.

“Before now, there was an impression that the amount given to the Commission was squandered.

“But from what we’ve seen so far, we’ve seen a Commission that came up with the idea that can give Nigeria reliable data.

“So, from what we’ve seen so far, we’re more than convinced that the Commission is ready for the forthcoming Census.

“We know that all the economic indices are based on data and assumption, and this is not good for the country. From what we’ve seen now, this House Committee on Population is going to pass this message to the leadership of the House, and we’re going to make it a compulsory exercise, because with the information we’ve gotten so far, the Census has been executed more than 80%; and the Commission has actually displayed to us that all the areas in Nigeria have been demarcated, and they also assure us that we will be counted accurately. So, the onus is now on us to make sure, not only to give fair legislative backing but also to let the Executive know that this is as important as anything because, with the data they’ve shown to us, it is even possible to use this data to track down insecurity; it is even better to use this data to plan our economy.

So, even if they require more money; if we can vote over a trillion Naira for security, this exercise is worth voting money for. We’re going to ensure that all the money they require for the exercise, would be assisted with,” Hon. Odimayo told journalists.

Moreover, before the budget defence at the National Assembly, the Commission has already organized a retreat for the House Committee on Population to brief them on the implementation status for the next census, equip them with knowledge of the NPC operations and seek legislative support for the conduct of its activities.

Meanwhile, the Commission seeks to organize another retreat for the Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population early next year.