We’re Waiting For President To Proclaim Census–NPC

The National Population Commission (NPC) has said it lacks the law powerfulness to hole a day for the adjacent nationalist census and is awaiting a ceremonial proclamation from President Bola Tinubu for the workout to commence.

“We are waiting for proclamation from the president to springiness the go-ahead with the census. As for us, we bash not person the powerfulness to proclaim the day for the census. We are lone doing advocacy to ginger the president to denote the day for the census. The president has the powerfulness to proclaim the day with funds,” an NPC authoritative told LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday.

The clarification reaffirms the commission’s long-standing presumption that portion it continues with advocacy and preparatory work, lone the Presidency tin proclaim a census day done an authoritative directive backed with funding.

Under erstwhile president Muhammadu Buhari, the committee had concluded extended preparations for the census. Trainings were conducted nationwide, integer devices procured, and funds allocated for the exercise.

The nationalist headcount was scheduled for 2023, but the modulation to a caller medication forced a postponement. Since President Tinubu assumed office, the process has remained connected clasp pending a caller proclamation.

Over the past year, NPC president Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra had repeatedly maintained that the committee was afloat prepared to behaviour the census but tin lone proceed erstwhile the president makes the proclamation.

In November 2024, the NPC had to contented a rebuttal aft viral reports falsely claimed that 2025 had been acceptable arsenic the census year.

Nigeria has not conducted a colonisation and lodging census since 2006.

Previous attempts had been stalled by backing challenges, governmental transitions and controversies implicit credibility. While training, recruitment and procurement of integer tools are ongoing, the committee awaits the president.

Development experts reason that a credible census is captious for nationalist planning, work transportation and assets allocation.

They besides accent that beyond governmental will, transparent backing and broad-based assurance are indispensable for credibility.

For now, attraction remains connected the Presidency, which has acceptable up committees and held briefings with NPC officials successful caller months.