The House of Representatives has begun probing the N200 billion earmarked for the 2023 Population and Housing Census suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
It said it was aware that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari planned to conduct the census in 2022, but the programme was later postponed to 2023 and finally suspended indefinitely a few days before his tenure ended.
The House recalled that earlier in March 2023 the former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, said a total of N869 Billion would be required for the exercise, including Post-Census-Activities.
On Thursday, the House mandated its committee on population to invite the Director-General of the National Population Commission (NPC) to account for the expended N200 billion.
This followed the adoption of a motion, “Need to Investigate N200 Billion Spent on the Suspended 2023 Population and Housing Census,”, by Hon Clement Akanni during plenary in Abuja.
Adopting the motion, the House noted that census was a process of systematically collecting, compiling, and analysing demographic, social and economic data of a population within a specific region.
The lawmakers also noted that governments conduct censuses to gather accurate and comprehensive information such as age, sex, marital status, education, occupation, housing, and other relevant demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of a country.
The House said it was aware that the last census that was conducted in 2006 by the National Population Commission gave a population figure of 140 million.
It said it was also aware that the immediate-past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari planned to conduct another census in 2022, but the programme was later postponed to 2023.
The House recalled that earlier in March 2023 the former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, said a total of N869 Billion would be required for the exercise, including Post-Census-Activities.
The House was disturbed that the exercise was, however, suspended indefinitely by former President Muhammadu Buhari a few days before leaving office.
The House referred the matter to the committee on population to report back for further deliberation
