President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, approved the Suspension of the 2023 Population and Housing Census earlier scheduled for 3-7 May 2023 indefinitely. A new date is to be determined by the incoming Administration.
The Honourable Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who spoke on behalf of the President, during a meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council and the Chairman of the National Population Commission at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday.
He said: “There is currently a critical need to conduct a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, to collate an updated data that will drive the developmental goals of the Country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.”
He noted that, with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the Country, the recruitment and training of adhoc workers, the procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructures, appreciable progress has been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
He also commended the efforts being put in place by the Commission to conduct accurate and reliable Census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world class Census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses.
The President further directed the Commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census in order to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate on these achievements.
The meeting was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.
