The National Population Commission (NPC) has provided clarification regarding the criticism surrounding the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
The widely held belief that the postponement was due to insufficient funds has been misinterpreted, according to the Commission.
During a meeting with stakeholders in Jos, the state capital, Mrs. Cecilia Dapoet, the Federal Commissioner in Plateau State, revealed that the NPC had postponed the census exercise in order to prevent a national crisis.
She emphasized that the real reason behind the decision was not related to financial constraints but rather to the government’s transition program and the post-election atmosphere in the country.
Dapoet acknowledged the various speculations and media attention surrounding the postponement, which occurred after the census was initially scheduled for May 3-7, 2023.
She stated, “We all witnessed the uncertainty that loomed over the nation following the elections and were cautious not to fall into potential pitfalls that could have caused further trouble. We cannot take things for granted and therefore chose to postpone the exercise.”
The Commissioner expressed optimism that the delay in conducting the national census would provide ample time for the new administration, led by President Bola Tinubu, to adequately prepare for the undertaking.
Dapoet assured that when a new date is determined, the NPC would conduct the first-ever digital census in Nigeria, highlighting the acquisition of handheld devices stored at the Central Bank in Jos and the readiness of the corresponding software.
Dapoet further emphasized that the postponement offers an opportunity to reassess the Census Work-plan and introduce improvements that would enhance the implementation strategy and ensure optimal success.
The NPC aims to address the issues of undercounting, multiple counting, and inaccurate enumeration that have plagued previous census exercises, leading to a lack of trust in the data for planning and development purposes.
She also assured that measures have been put in place to prevent political interference in the census process. Mrs. Felicia Mwolpun, the Plateau State Director of the NPC, encouraged citizens to cooperate with and support the Commission in order to achieve its goals.