Buhari to approve new date for national census
President Muhammadu Buhari in the coming days is expected to approve the new date for the commencement of the 2023 Housing and Population Census.
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Recall that the earlier date for the exercise was scheduled for March 29 to April but the new date May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2023 became necessary following the one week extension of the second phase of the 2023 general election – the governorship and state assembly elections.
A staff member of the National Population Commission (NPC), who does not want his name to be mentioned said the decision is yet to be taken, as reported by News Point Nigeria.
“The census will hold now from May 3 to 7 and it is a recommendation that has been submitted to the President. He is going to approve it anyway but it is yet to be decided.”
It would be recalled that the Chairman of the commission, Nasir Isa Kwarra, had given a hint of the shift of the exercise Thursday while receiving some digital items from the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) in Abuja.
Kwarra, while stating that the decision has not been reached, said President Muhammadu Buhari would decide the next line of action.
He applauded UNFPA for its support and partnership.
“Over the years, the UNFPA’s partnership with the NPC has been invaluable in propelling the vision and mission of the Commission forward in its bid to strive for demographic excellence, a successful and fully digital 2023 PHC and in turn the 2023 PES.
“Thus far, the Commission and the UNFPA have spared no expense in the training and equipping the Commission’s ranks with the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills to undertake the 2023 PES in line with international best practices,” he added.
The UNFPA Country Representative, Ms Elizabeth Mueller explained that the laptops have all the software’s needed for the exercise.
The UN agency also pledged to continue to support the commission deliver on its mandate.