Nothing can stop census from holding next year -Reps

The House of Representatives Committee on Population, has said that nothing stops the national population and housing census from holding, expressing the readiness of the National Population Commission to conduct the census.

The Chairman of the Committee, Okunjimi John Odimayo, who spoke at the budget defence of House Committee on Population on Monday, appealed that the process be completed and that the committee was fully convinced that the NPC is prepared for the census.

He said, “The Commission was here this morning to present their 2023 budget performance and 2024 budget. Before this we had a two-day retreat and what I can say from this is that the Commission is more than prepared to conduct the census.

“They also itemised some major items that were purchased and it is clear to us that for the census, the Commission has gone as far as 80 percent. With what they have presented we are very convinced that they are ready for the census.

“Our appeal as legislators is that this process should be completed, we are satisfied with what we’ve seen and we are very sure that Nigeria for the first time should have a based-data that can be useful to all aspects of the economy, we are very convinced.

“Census provides an important data that promotes national planning. Some of our challenges now can be addressed if we have a concrete information of the country”.

Odimayo also dismissed reports that the Commission mismanaged funds allocated to them in 2023, emphasizing that the money was not wasted and was spent on preparation activities.

“With what they have defended and presented, this money was not wasted and that on their own side they are prepared to have census” he stated.

At the climax of the event, the Committee also adopted the 2024 budget of the National Population Commission.