The House of Representatives has commenced investigation into the 200 billion naira meant for the suspended 2023 Population and Housing Census.
The House, on Thursday mandated its committee on population to invite the director-general of the National Population Commission, NPC, to give an account of how the 200 billion naira was expended.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Honourable Clement Akanni during plenary in Abuja who noted 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; this figure, according to the Minister, includes post-census activities.
He also said, “The National Population Commission (NPC) says it has spent about N200 billion to prepare for the 2023 population and housing census. A census is a process of systematically collecting, compiling, and analysing demographic, social, and economic data about a population within a specific region.
“Also note that censuses are conducted by governments 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.
Akkani explained that the collected data is used for a wide range of purposes, including policy-making, resource allocation, urban planning, public health, education, and more.
Disturbed that the exercise was, however, suspended indefinitely by former President Muhammadu Buhari a few days before leaving office, the House referred the motion to its committee on population census to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
By – Opeoluwa Micheal-Ayobami
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